Can Publishers Maintain Control of the Scholarly Record?

The journal brand has proven to be the great intangible asset of the scholarly publisher. It signals trust and authority to authors and readers alike. Nevertheless, looking ahead, there are real tensions emerging in how the scholarly record will be structured and who will have ownership and control over it. What are the opportunities and challenges as publishers seek to extend the reach — and value — of their journal brands by supporting research materials beyond the version of record? Digging into the evolving context of preprints and research data offers valuable clues.