Open science and regulations to implement openness in Latin America: trends, analysis and recommendations

Abstract

Open science movement has highlighted implementation of various informative actions and technical, technological and legal infrastructure to maximize openness of publicly funded research outputs; Therefore, premise for this research is to delimit that a fundamental factor to expand access to research outputs are the legal regulations with which to support availability, visibility and access to said products. Aim of this research is to identify and study regulations for use of third-party research products from Latin America within framework of open science, as well as to delimit the linkage of said regulations to support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of UNESCO. Research is carried out based on a bibliographic review methodology, as well as quantitative methods to implement the exploratory, descriptive, explanatory and predictive levels; Research is carried out on a random sample of 20 Latin American countries; for search and retrieval of data, a set of variables is delimited; Sources of consultation are specialized literature, official web portals of Governments, Universities and Libraries, and ROARMAP directory. Analysis of findings obtained indicates that Latin America has made progress on open access regulations and it is necessary to strengthen and promote implementation of rights, limitations, exceptions and licenses by libraries and other institutions to strengthen the opening of third-party research outputs in framework of legality. A general conclusion is that opening of science requires going from being an action of good intention to being guaranteed by moral and patrimonial regulations, limitations, exceptions and licensing to be formally implemented.