Not counting DaVinci in the 15th Century.
Well, one usually can get any open literature [even if with a delay in interlibrary loan]. The trouble lies more in comprehending and filtering the information [for most of it is irrelevant garbage], than in getting access to it. As a Chinese prince said some 3 millenia ago to one of his councillors, "to understand this", he said with a sigh, "is not given to you". And the struggle against the limits of one's own understanding is much harder than against any imperfect library system.
This is one of those issues that will receive proportionally less attention than it deserves. It brings up broader important issues, too. For example, what's the role of public funding for science?
Although a kneejerk reaction might be that science should be privately funded, a moment's consideration shows how important public funding has been at providing a balance to biased study as well as funding basic research that's not immediately patentable or profitable. The unintended consequences loom large on this issue.
But I would have to wonder how much unintentional duplicate research this would cut down on. Uncle Sam doles out with a sloppy hand, if he can't even tell who was actually in the Katrina flood vs. who is a crafty grifter, how is he going to tell if 10 scientists paid from the public purse are doing the exact same thing one after the other in ignorance of one another. In the end it's the golden rule: whoever passes out the gold makes the rules.
SHARING WITH THE CHINESE
Like Hillery Clinton said:" It takes a Village!"
America is at an economic disadvantage with China, and now we soon will be at a military disadvantage.
Open Access to Science is just another liberal whacko scheme to destroy the military industrial complex of the West, so we can live in peace in a little Utopia doomed to sure failure.
Result: The West Coast will be the New Peoples Republic of China, and the Eastt Coast will be the New England Caliphate of Al Ramana.
Liberal socialist scientists make me puke, always have.
Like the old joke says"... we've already determined what you are, now we're just negotiating on the price." If the government is funding the research it is already socialized science. If you want to keep your research private or limit its release, then privately fund it yourself or come to a contract with a private grantor or investor. If you want to research on the public dime, then that research (and the patents associated with it) should be freely released. Don't make me pay for it and then expect to privately profit from it.
"Public access equals government censorship'
Anyone advocating that has aces up his sleeve and a master's degree in street corner hustling.
Virulent TB In South Africa May Imperil Millions
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
If any of you have actually tried to search for engineering or scientific data on the internet it is daunting. Either some organization wants $15 for a pdf copy (that might not be what you are looing for) or you have to join some organization and pay annual dues.