The trust's move is the latest salvo in a battle about ownership of, and access to, the published work of scientists that has been simmering underneath the sedate surface of scientific research for years.

The majority of the world's scientific journals are accessible only via subscription, including highly influential titles such as Nature, Science and the New England Journal of Medicine. Others, such as the Public Library of Science stable, can be read by anybody. The cost of publication falls on the scientists or their institutions.

Many researchers want their work to be freely available to all as they believe this will speed up discoveries. They also argue it is unfair that publicly funded research should only be accessible behind the paywalls of private publishing houses. Later this year, the Wellcome Trust will launch an online open access journal called eLife that will compete with the paid-for heavyweights.