Creative Commons has launched GreenXchange, a project aimed at re-creating the eviscerated (Madey v. Duke) research exemption to patents through voluntary licensing. See also our past posts on Madey v. Duke.

Jan Velterop, Deploring or exploring? The Parachute , February 10, 2009.  Excerpt: Comment .  This is a brilliant analogy.  I've often argued for conclusions close to those Jan is drawing here.  But without the benefit of his simple, vivid, beautiful analogy, or any other analogy, these conclusions can sound dry and abstract:

Here are some more comments from the press and blogosphere on the re-introduction of the Conyers bill (a.k.a. Fair Copyright in Research Works Act, HR 801), which would overturn the OA policy at the NIH.  Also see our first collection of comments.

The new Kindle ebook reader from Amazon includes a feature to read the text aloud.  Geoffrey Fowler and Jeffrey Trachtenberg report the reaction of the Authors Guild in yesterday's Wall Street Journal : PS:  See our past posts on the Authors Guild. Update (2/28/09).  Amazon blinked.  See its press release and Lawrence Lessig's comment, which speaks my mind.

I just moved my Timeline of the Open Access Movement to the Open Access Directory (OAD) for community editing.  Starting now, it's no longer just my work, but the work of all who contribute.  I plan to continue as a contributor. I've enjoyed working on this timeline, and I'm proud of it.  But I can no longer do it justice.

Wikileaks has succeeded in its plan to create OA for thousands of CRS Reports.  From the site: Thanks to Brock Meeks of CDT for the alert and these comments: PS:  Kudos to all involved.  See our past posts on the many efforts to break through the secrecy and toll access to share these useful reports with the public. Update (2/11/09).

Twidox has moved into its public beta.  From today's announcement: Also see the FAQ and our past posts on Twidox.

Various materials on the Researcher 2.0 workshop (Milton Keynes, February 10, 2009): Doug Clow: notes (1, 2), slides Andreia Inamorato do Santos Gráinne Conole, et al.

India's OA Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is making good on its plan to share its contents with patent offices around the world in order to establish prior art and invalidate bogus patents.  See yesterday's press release from the Indian government: PS:  Also see our past posts on the TKDL.

Carnets is a new peer-reviewed OA journal published by the Associação Portuguesa de Estudos Franceses. The inaugural issue is now available, with articles in French and Portuguese. Future issues will be released annually; each issue will have a theme.

The text of the OA policy adopted by the Spanish principality of Asturias, which we previously posted, is now available. The policy is dated January 12. The host repository, Repositorio Institucional de Asturias (RIA), is also now open. (Thanks to Raquel Lavandera Fernández.) Comment. The text of the policy appears to be as previously reported: requiring deposit in RIA and allowing up to a 6 month embargo.