Elsevier embargo periods, 2013-2018

This dataset contains all journal embargo periods published by Elsevier in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, for both UK and non-UK authors. It also contains a set of notes on the overall statistics, plus annual changes between lists.

In summary, 87.9% of currently published Elsevier journals (in early 2018) offer a twelve-month or less embargo period for UK authors, and 58.6% for non-UK authors. Weighted by publication volume, it was around 88% of papers for UK authors in 2017, generally consistent with the journal-level data.

Since the first general list was published in 2013, the general trend has been to add more journals to the list and (gradually) lower embargo periods; in 2015 and 2016 this has included a substantial increase in zero-embargo titles. The majority of journals have a stated embargo period and in most cases it has been reasonably stable since 2015. There has been a noticeable reduction in active titles in 2018, meaning the percentage of active journals with suitable embargos has decreased, but these journals appear to have had a low publication volume and so the overall effect is relatively minor.

A number of substantial anomalies developed between the lists in 2013 and 2014, with journals being removed or having their embargo periods extended. These have since been created, but around a dozen mismatches have reappeared in the late-2017/early-2018 version of the lists.