Q: Does an embargo period apply to open access articles or subscription articles?

Detailed Question -

Is embargo period meant only for open access option of journals? Is it possible that  subscription-based articles also have an embargo period?

1 Answer to this question
Answer:

During an embargo period, published articles cannot be made freely available without charge. The purpose of open access is to make articles freely available online. Therefore, ideally open access articles should not have any embargo period.

However, journals may choose to impose an embargo period for subscription articles that are not freely available. Thus, if the publisher of the journal holds an embargo period of 12 months, then the article can be made freely available only after 12 months.

Each journal and publisher have their own restrictions. Please review the journal and publisher policies carefully to understand more about the embargo period.

Related reading:

Does distribution of published articles amount to violation of copyright policy of the publisher?