Access to publications derived from publicly-funded research world-wide is being hindered by financial and technical barriers, so that users of academic literature in rich and poor countries alike cannot gain access to all the research papers they need. By contrast with this scenario of increasing problems with the traditional scholarly publication system, the open access movement offers increased access for no greater overall cost to the academic community than the present system. In this paper two possible ways to solve current problems and improve access are set out, and research funding agencies are invited to consider whether either or both ways forward may improve access to publications arising from research they have funded.