The term _open access_ is often treated as if it only refers to one publication model. In fact, there are several paths of openness with different economic and legal consequences.
Gold Open Access means that articles are publicly available through their publisher’s journals. In this model, some journals charge APCs to their authors or institutions, while other journals receive funding from different sources and do not charge publication fees. Therefore, Gold is not synonymous with paid journals.
Hybrid Open Access is implemented by journals that stick to a subscription system, but offer authors the option to pay APC for their articles to be open. Other articles in the same journal can still be behind a paywall. This model raises questions about the possibility of double payments when institutions pay for subscriptions as well as APCs. However, whether double payments actually occur need to be examined based on each publisher’s contract and cost-reduction mechanism.
Green Open Access allows authors to store and share versions of articles through institutional repositories or repositories in the field of science. This path can extend access without always requiring authors to pay APC to publishers. However, the version of the manuscript that can be retained, the embargo period, and the right to reuse depend on the publisher’s policies and license terms.
Bronze Open Access refers to articles that can be read for free on the publisher’s site, but do not have a clearly identified open license. Articles like this may be readable without payment, but readers do not necessarily have permission to redistribute or adapt them. Free access is also not always guaranteed to last forever.
Diamond or Platinum Open Access provides free access to readers while not charging authors publication fees. Its operational costs can be borne by universities, scientific associations, governments, libraries, consortiums, or other funders. This model is particularly relevant for Indonesia because it is in line with the tradition of institution- and community-based scientific publishing.
These differences are not just a matter of terminology. Gold and Hybrid can unlock reader access through certain payments; Green provides a repository path; Bronze offers free readability with no guarantee of an open license; while Diamond seeks to eliminate direct costs for authors and readers. None of those terms, on their own, are sufficient to prove the quality of the journal or the integrity of its editorial process.
What needs to be understood is that open access, publishing financing, and reuse rights are three interrelated, but not identical, issues. Free reading doesn’t necessarily mean free reuse. Not paying for APC doesn’t mean no cost. And paying for APC doesn’t automatically guarantee the quality of publications.
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