Policy & advocacy

STM works in partnership across the research ecosystem to advocate for policies which advance trusted research. In dialogue with governments, funders, institutions, researchers, and beyond, we aim to enable and drive openness, innovation and sustainability through the following activities:

Representation & voice

Serving as the collective voice for our members, representing their interests to government bodies, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. 

Policy development & analysis

Developing policy positions and recommendations that align with the interests of our members. We analyze current and proposed legislation to understand its impact on the industry and provide expert insights.

Advocacy and lobbying

Actively engaging with lawmakers, regulators, and other decision-makers to advocate for policies that support the industry’s growth and sustainability. This can involve direct lobbying, participating in public consultations, and submitting formal comments on proposed regulations.

Stakeholder engagement

Building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, industry partners, and the public. 

Policy updates

Ensuring that members are informed about relevant policy developments, regulatory changes, and other critical issues that could affect their strategies and operations. 

Education and training

Providing educational resources and training to members on compliance with regulations, best practices in advocacy, and understanding the policy landscape.

Research and data analysis

Conducting and commissioning research to support advocacy efforts, providing data and evidence to back policy positions and demonstrate the industry’s value and impact. 

Coalition building

Forming coalitions with other organizations and industries to strengthen advocacy efforts and present a united front on common issues.

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EXPLORE STM POLICY & ADVOCACY POSITIONS, STATEMENTS, GUIDELINES & MORE

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Drill deeper

Meet the STM Chapters

STM Chapters connect regional members with STM leadership, support local needs, and ensure strategies reflect cultural and regional contexts.

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Our work protecting author rights and IP

View this collection of resources and positions around intellectual property.

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Our work on AI

STM explores AI’s impact on scholarly communication, providing insights and resources to help members navigate opportunities and challenges in this evolving era.

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Latest policy updates from around the globe

STM supports transparency in AI training

STM has expressed support for Congressional efforts to legislate on AI transparency, with several bills proposed to require AI developers to disclose the use of copyrighted material. The TRAIN Act grants rightsholders the ability to petition courts to subpoena developers to release generative AI training data. The CLEAR Act would require generative AI developers to disclose, available via a…

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EU Commission releases report on ERA Act consultation

Following the call for evidence on the ERA Act open between 6 August and 10 September 2025, the EU Commission released a summary of stakeholders’ responses. A fragmented copyright landscape, the lack of standardised metadata and interoperable data infrastructures, inequities arising from APCs, dominance of English in scientific publishing, reliance on commercial publishers and restrictive contractual practices…

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ICYMI: Our comments on copyright and AI in India

Last month we joined other publishing organisations and rightsholders in submitting comments to India’s Working Paper on Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright, which proposed a statutory licensing scheme for AI. STM will continue to monitor this issue and engage with stakeholders in India. View the working paper here.

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EU Parliament adopts position on copyright and AI

On 10 March, the European Parliament adopted its position on AI and copyright in plenary session. No further amendments were tabled following the committee vote, and the final report reflects the version previously available. The text stops short of recommending a reopening of the 2019 EU Copyright Directive, but acknowledges its ambiguous application in the AI…

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