Blog post by Martin Bradley
In an era where knowledge is increasingly digital, global and instantaneous, it’s vital that the frameworks governing copyright and research outputs keep pace. Knowledge Rights 21’s (KR21) work resonates strongly in Ireland, as it assists knowledge institutions (libraries, universities, and cultural heritage bodies) in addressing copyright law and practice issues, enabling them to share works more freely and ensuring that contractual or technological barriers don’t override users’ rights.
The Research Outputs and Open Access Bill
One concrete manifestation of this mission is the 2025 Copyright and Related Rights (Research Outputs and Open Access) Bill(webinar recording), the first version of which was published in 2024, developed by the Irish project SCOIR with input from various stakeholders, including the National Open Research Forum (NORF), and the assistance of KR21. In broad terms, the Bill signals a major step forward for open access as it proposes that publicly-funded research outputs must be deposited in open repositories; that the right to share such outputs be legally protected (even if a publishing contract says otherwise); and that research outputs become more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (“FAIR”).
With KR21’s experience in copyright reform, rights-retention strategies, and awareness-building across Europe, it helps ensure that Ireland’s legislation aligns with international best-practice and doesn’t leave researchers and institutions stranded in legacy models. KR21’s capacity-building, evidence-based work and network-building across the European library and research community provide a strong foundation for the Bill’s ambitions.
The SCOIR Roadshow: Building Awareness Across Ireland
Complementing this legislative momentum is SCOIR’s Autumn Roadshow series, which aims to bring the conversation on secondary publishing rights, rights retention, open access and institutional policies directly to researchers, librarians, policy-makers and higher-education staff across Ireland. For example, one of the October 2025 stops was at the South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford, with an event titled “Who Owns Our Knowledge? SCOIR Copyright Seminar”, which highlighted how the forthcoming Bill could change research publishing in Ireland.
The roadshow’s format is particularly valuable: in-person sessions (and hybrid where possible) allow for direct engagement, Q&A with experts, and a practical walkthrough of how changes in law will affect everyday research workflows. This kind of outreach is critical to moving beyond legislative text to real-world change. It ensures that the objectives of the Bill aren’t just lofty ideals, but something that librarians, researchers and institutions can put into practice. The roadshow also helps build a community of practice around open access and rights retention, aligning with KR21’s broader vision.
A Collaborative Model for Transformative Change
In short, KR21 and SCOIR together illustrate how policy, advocacy and outreach can combine to produce meaningful change. KR21 supplies the Europe-wide lens and reform agenda; the Bill provides the national legal framework; and the SCOIR roadshow drives engagement on the ground. For Ireland’s research and higher-education sector, this is a promising moment, one which shows a future in which:
- publicly-funded knowledge that society invests in is more freely available;
- researchers’ rights are clearer; and,
- institutions are better placed to manage the transition toward open access.
If you’re based in a university, library or research centre in Ireland, follow SCOIR’s LinkedIn page to stay updated on the roadshow schedule, join relevant sessions, and start conversations locally about how your institution will implement the new legislation when it arrives.
21 November 2025
