“As a freelance science writer, I am quite often confronted with 'closed doors' or unduly high paywalls during my literature research. Lacking institutional affiliations, freelancers have to either refrain from thorough research or obtain the necessary literature by dubious means. I am member of the steering board of the Coalition because I want to work towards a copyright law that releases freelance science writers from this dilemma.”

“The last major change to the copyright law took place in 1966 and significantly weakened the legal position of the author in relation to the publisher. In the field of science this can be seen in contracts such as 'Copyright Transfer Agreements', with which especially transnationally established publishers and those specializing in science media have the authors' exploitation rights exclusively transferred to them to the maximum extent and relating to each element of the work. This situation is unbalanced and constitutes a strong hindrance to science communication. In copyright law, science authors as creators in particular, but also as users of works, ought to be given more privileges again.”

“The Coalition is a civil society organization which has in its main focus the development of an education and science friendly copyright. The Coalition consistently pursues the goal of free (in the meaning of ‘libre et gratuit’) access and use of published works in education and science without impairing the authors´ rights. The Coalition is also willing to support every initiative of the publishing industry which adopts these goals.”

The Coalition for Action is based on the Göttingen Declaration which was signed since 2004 by research organizations, professional societies, institutions and individuals. _{[list of signatories]}

The signatories meet once a year to elect the steering board, which in turn elects the board of speakers from their midst. _[contact]