What Happened to Springer Nature's Retraction of Historical Max Planck Studies?
In 2026, Springer Nature controversially marked two philosophical essays by Nobel laureate Max Planck, originally published in 1940 and 1942, as 'retracted' or 'withdrawn due to copyright violation' on its digital platform. This action, which replaced the articles with blank pages while still offering them for sale, stemmed from the anachronistic application of modern copyright and digitization policies to historical publishing practices.
Quick Answer
In May and June 2026, Springer Nature removed two historical philosophical essays by physicist Max Planck, published in *Naturwissenschaften* in 1940 and 1942, from its digital platform. The publisher cited 'article violation' or 'copyright violation' for these 'retractions,' replacing the content with blank pages, yet reportedly still selling the empty PDFs. This move has been criticized by historians of science as an anachronistic application of modern publishing norms to historical works, which were legitimately republished multiple times in their era. The original papers remain accessible through non-profit archives like the Internet Archive.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Max Planck's First Essay Published
Max Planck's philosophical essay, 'Sinn und Grenzen der exakten Wissenschaft' (Sense and Limits of Exact Science), was published in *Naturwissenschaften*.
Max Planck's Second Essay Published
Max Planck's second philosophical essay, also titled 'Sinn und Grenzen der exakten Wissenschaft,' was published in *Naturwissenschaften*. This was a common practice for lectures and essays at the time.
Max Planck Society Cancels Licensing Agreement with Springer
The Max Planck Society canceled its licensing agreement with Springer (before it merged with Nature Publishing Group) due to 'excessive demands' and high subscription prices, highlighting early tensions over access to scientific content.
Springer Acquires Open Access Journals from Max Planck Society
Springer acquired three 'Living Reviews' open access journals from the Max Planck Society, demonstrating a shift towards open access models and a continued, albeit evolving, relationship between the two entities.
Springer Compact Agreement with Max Planck Digital Library
Springer and the Max Planck Digital Library signed a 'Springer Compact' agreement, allowing Max Planck researchers to publish open access in over 1,600 Springer journals and access over 2,000 journals.
Projekt DEAL and Springer Nature Finalize Transformative Agreement
Springer Nature and Projekt DEAL (representing German research institutions, including Max Planck) finalized the world's largest transformative Open Access agreement, providing OA publishing services and extensive journal access.
Landmark Open Access Agreement for Nature Journals
Springer Nature and the Max Planck Digital Library announced a four-year transformative agreement, the first for Nature and Nature-branded journals, enabling Max Planck authors to publish open access at no cost.
Open Access Book Deal with Max Planck Society
A three-year agreement between Springer Nature and the Max Planck Digital Library went live, offering Max Planck authors discounts on Book Publishing Charges for open access books.
Planck Papers Flagged on PubPeer
Participants on the PubPeer platform flagged Max Planck's two papers after noticing they had been marked as 'retracted' on Springer's electronic platform, indicating the issue began to surface.
Academics Support Striking Springer Nature Staff
Almost 500 academics, including Nobel laureates from Max Planck Institute, signed an open letter supporting striking Springer Nature staff over pay, highlighting broader tensions within academic publishing.
New Open Access Books Agreement Period Begins
Eligible books under the Open Access Books Agreement between Springer Nature and MPDL are defined as those with an editorial acceptance date between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028.
arXiv Paper Details 'Curious Case' of Retracted Papers
An arXiv preprint titled 'The Curious Case of Max Planck retracted papers. When past scientific practices meet contemporary publishing norms' was published, detailing the retrospective marking of Planck's papers as retracted.
Widespread Reporting of Planck Paper Removal
News outlets and online communities, including Hacker News and RealClearScience, widely reported on Springer Nature's removal of Max Planck's two studies, sparking public debate and criticism.
Papers Remain Withdrawn, Debate Continues
As of today, the two Max Planck papers remain marked as withdrawn or retracted on Springer Nature's platform, with blank PDFs reportedly still for sale, fueling ongoing discussions about digital archiving ethics and historical accuracy.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The controversy surrounding Springer Nature's removal of Max Planck's studies emerged prominently in May and June 2026. Two philosophical essays by the renowned physicist, Max Planck, originally published in the journal Naturwissenschaften in 1940 and 1942, were retrospectively marked as 'retracted' or 'withdrawn' on Springer Nature's digital platform. The digital versions of these articles were replaced with blank pages, accompanied by a notice stating 'This article has been withdrawn due to article violation,' which was later clarified on Springer's website as 'copyright violation.' Remarkably, reports indicated that Springer Nature continued to sell these blank PDF files for a fee.
The underlying reason for this action appears to be the application of contemporary digitization and copyright-management procedures to historical publications. Historians of science, such as Yves Gingras, have argued that these withdrawals do not stem from scientific fraud but rather from a misunderstanding or ignorance of past publication practices. In the early 20th century, it was a common and legitimate practice for philosophical essays and lectures to be republished across multiple formats. Modern systems, however, likely interpreted these legitimate republications as 'duplicate publications' or 'copyright violations' during the digitization process, leading to their automated or semi-automated removal.
This incident has sparked significant discussion within the scientific and historical communities. Critics highlight how commercial publishers' digital infrastructures can inadvertently distort the historical record by applying anachronistic norms. The case of Planck's papers illustrates a broader challenge in managing vast digital archives of historical scientific literature, where automated systems may not adequately account for the evolving norms of scholarly communication. The irony is that while Springer Nature's platform rendered these papers inaccessible, they remain freely available through non-profit digital libraries like the Internet Archive, which hosts scanned versions of Naturwissenschaften volumes.
As of June 27, 2026, the two Max Planck papers remain marked as withdrawn or retracted on Springer Nature's digital platform. The controversy continues to fuel debates about open access, the role of publishers in preserving the historical scientific record, and the need for more nuanced approaches when digitizing and managing historical content. This event underscores the tension between commercial publishing models and the principles of open scholarship and historical accuracy.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Springer Nature's Retraction of Historical Max Planck Studies made different choices?