The omission of spending on Ex Libris, Web of Science, and Scopus in debates and research on alternatives based on free software and open tools

Abstract

This note has two main objectives: to provide data on the expenditures of public universities, their libraries, public institutions, research centers, and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt) on services, products, and subscriptions from providers such as Ex Libris (Clarivate), Web of Science  (also from Clarivate), and Scopus (Elsevier); and to discuss the omission of such expenditures in debates and studies regarding alternatives based on free software and open tools. A total of 50 tenders involving Ex Libris, Elsevier, and Clarivate are analyzed. Since 2017, spending on Ex Libris has exceeded 17 million euros excluding taxes (over 21 million including taxes), and since 2020, more than 38.2 million euros excluding taxes (over 46.2 million including taxes) have been paid for Scopus and Web of Science. In the final considerations, this note reflects on the omission of these expenditures in discussions and literature on the subject, raising questions for further debate. This paper suggests that debates and analyses on alternatives based on free software and open tools lose validity if they only consider the funding required for those alternatives while overlooking the actual costs of the software licenses, commercial services, and products currently under contract.