RabelsZ and Subscribe-to-Open: Changes to ensure the long-term sustainability of open access
Since 2024, The Rabel Journal of Comparative and International Private Law (RabelsZ) has been published under a Subscribe-to-Open (S2O) model. This model allows current volumes to be made publicly available under the gold standard of open access via a Creative Commons license – without having to charge the authors publication fees. This is funded through the support of libraries and institutions that maintain their existing subscriptions or join as new supporters. Together with the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law as the publishing institution, we remain convinced that S2O is a promising way of linking academic excellence, sustainability, and open scholarship. Based on our experience thus far with the implementation of S2O, we will be making a number of adjustments, having effect from 15 September 2026, which are intended to ensure the long-term viability of the S2O model for RabelsZ.
How does ‘Subscribe-to-Open’ work?
Subscribe-to-Open means that the current volume of a journal will be published open access if a sufficient number of libraries and institutions renew their subscriptions. The content is then freely accessible worldwide, with no publication charges incurred by authors. The model combines the general advantages of open access with sustainable funding from existing library budgets. However, for the model to work, a subscription must be perceived as valuable even when the latest content is freely accessible without the need for a subscription.
Further information on our S2O offering can be found on our Open Access Information Page.
What have we learned?
The introduction of S2O remains a learning process for the entire field of scientific communication. Publishers, libraries, and academic institutions are continuously gathering experience with new open access models and constantly developing these models further.
In the case of RabelsZ, we decided in 2024 that in addition to publishing the current volume open access, we would also make the entire historical archive freely accessible on JSTOR. This was done in part because JSTOR offers only two access options: under the first the entire journal is behind a paywall (including any open access content); under the second all volumes are freely available. We chose the latter option. This decision stretched the logic of the S2O model and arguably even ran counter to it. Although S2O aims to make current research openly accessible, access to extensive archive collections usually remains part of the added value of an institutional subscription. Making the archive of past volumes fully open led some institutions to question the benefits of a subscription. Consequently, subscription numbers indeed fell, thereby weakening the foundation on which rests the primary aim of publishing current volumes open access.
Our experience has taught us that sustainable funding of S2O requires that the principles of open scholarship be carefully balanced against the importance long-term financial viability.
What changes will be implemented on 15 September 2026?
JSTOR
In the future, RabelsZ will once again be offered on JSTOR under the established paywall model (subject to a five-year embargo). Due to the technical peculiarity mentioned above, S2O volumes from 2024 onwards will also be closed access on JSTOR. This approach is consistent with the practice of other S2O titles found on this platform.
Expansion of the archive in the Mohr Siebeck eLibrary
At the same time, we will be expanding the RabelsZ digital archive in the Mohr Siebeck eLibrary to include all volumes dating back to 1919 (including predecessor titles); until now the digital archive had included volumes only from 2001 onwards. Subscribing institutions will automatically gain access to this significantly expanded historical collection at no additional cost. In this way, we are enhancing the added value of a subscription and creating a more stable foundation for the continuation of the S2O model.
Clarification regarding the rights of further use of older content
As part of this transition process, we have reviewed the Creative Commons licenses for archive content dating prior to the introduction of S2O and concluded that in some cases amendment is appropriate. The licenses were originally assigned with the aim of making subsequent use of the entire archive as easy as possible. As older content was not originally published via S2O, CC licenses were initially assigned in all cases; however, such an across-the-board approach would have required further steps and must therefore be corrected. Open-access volumes published under the S2O model from 2024 onwards will, of course, continue to be CC-licensed (these volumes will be freely accessible in the Mohr Siebeck eLibrary under an open-access license on a permanent basis), as will all articles that were published before 2023 under a free license on the basis of article processing charges.
Our goal remains open access
These measures do not represent a departure from open access. On the contrary, they are intended to create the conditions that will allow RabelsZ to continue publishing current research under the ‘Subscribe-to-Open’ model and to do so on a permanent basis.
We would like to thank the libraries, authors, and readers who support this model. Your commitment is crucial to ensuring open access to high-quality legal research on a sustainable basis.
We warmly invite libraries and institutions wishing to support the future of the S2O model at RabelsZ to renew their subscriptions or to take out new ones.
Our commitment to open access
Promoting a sustainable and fair open access ecosystem remains a top priority for Mohr Siebeck. We are therefore partners in various open access initiatives; these include an agreement with the Max Planck Digital Library on the open access publication of books and the first ever R&P contract with the University of Vienna, which also covers books.
If you have any questions, please contact journals@mohrsiebeck.com.