This article is a translation of: L'Open Access : vers une
nouvelle pratique de la communication scientifique. The
development of scientific publications’ self-archiving and free
access archives, defended by movements for open access, reflects
the needs of scientific research in terms of communication and
dissemination. Giving everyone access to scientific publications
seems to promote the visibility of research work – and much more
quickly than via the traditional publication process. Open
access in particular is the object of many debates common to all
scientific disciplines and must be considered in the framework
of the historical context of scientific publication. This new
practice of scientific publishing is symptomatic of societal
changes caused by free access to content shared intentionally on
the Internet and thus generates debates similar to that
surrounding free downloading, dissemination of works and
copyright protection. ArXiv: A Response of Open Access to the
Delays of Publication ArXiv, the firs