Finnish universities will adopt a prior licence model for peer‑reviewed articles during 2026. Internationally, the model is known as the Rights Retention Strategy (RRS). Its aim is to ensure that researchers retain the right to make their publications openly available through self-archiving. Prior licence model also strengthens the resilience of access to research and supports academic freedom.
Preparation of the model has progressed under the leadership of the Finnish University Libraries’ Network (FUN) since 2023. The initial stages involved reviewing different models, clarifying objectives, and developing an implementation roadmap for RRS. In spring 2025, universities’ positions and the policy of the Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities (Unifi) were surveyed, and in autumn 2025, a newly established RRS Expert Network defined shared practices. Each university will further specify how the model is implemented through its own decision-making processes, and university libraries will prepare more detailed guidance for researchers.
Decision‑making and Responsibilities
- Each university’s rector decides on the adoption of prior licence model.
- Communication and researcher guidance are organised by each university, following common principles.
- Universities provide support for the use of prior licensing as part of their libraries’ open access (OA) services.
Support for Researchers
Researchers can contact their own university with any questions related to prior licence model: