The gray zone between legitimate and predatory open access scientific publishing.

Area of Science:

• Scholarly publishing
• Bibliometrics
• Academic integrity

Background:

• The article processing charges (APC) model in open access publishing has enabled new business models.
• Some publishers operate in a 'gray zone,' blending legitimate and predatory practices.
• This gray zone is profitable due to strategic combinations of journal acceptance rates and APCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive description of the gray zone in open access publishing.
• To identify the characteristics that define this gray zone.
• To raise awareness among researchers about potential risks.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of publisher business models.
• Examination of journal metrics (e.g., acceptance rates).
• Review of article processing charge data.

Main Results:

• Profitability in the gray zone is achieved through specific combinations of high acceptance rates and high APCs.
• The gray zone is difficult to identify, posing risks to authors.
• Publishers in this zone may prioritize profit over scholarly quality.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the gray zone is crucial for researchers navigating open access publishing.
• This research aims to equip authors with knowledge to avoid predatory or gray zone publishers.
• Mitigating the risks associated with the gray zone is essential for maintaining academic career progression.