The AIA is under attack from groups supporting open access to government funded research for its efforts to oppose the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2012.
The legislation is meant to ensure that government funded research is made available to the public on the Internet.
A group called, "Open Access Archaeology" takes the AIA to task, noting,
�The AIA does not understand that the legislation does not force them to make their materials Open Access. It only requires that research paid for by the US federal government be made Open Access after a period of closed access.
�We believe the AIA does not actually know what Open Access is or even what the term means. While public lectures are great it is not Open Access PUBLICATIONS.
�It is not the AIA that adds value to publications but the researchers who write the articles and peer reviewers who make improvements. Both actions are not paid for or undertaken by the AIA but by volunteers for FREE.
�We interpret the AIA mission statement, �Believing that greater understanding of the past enhances our shared sense of humanity and enriches our existence, the AIA seeks to educate people of all ages about the significance of archaeological discovery., to be in full support of Open Access and NOT in support of closed access.
For more, see http://www.openaccessarchaeology.org/response-to-aia.html
The AIA's stance in this matter certainly belies any claims made before Congress and the State Department Cultural Property Advisory Committee that import restrictions are necessary to further research that is then made available to the public.
Interestingly, the AIA's efforts against open access appear nowhere on the AIA's advocacy page. See http://www.archaeological.org/sitepreservation/advocacy
Is the AIA interested in the dissemination of knowledge as widely as possible or information control?