The OpenAccessPub logo.
The latest addition to my list of predatory publishers is OpenAccessPub, a brand-new outfit based out of an apartment in Rancho Cordova, California, a suburb of Sacramento.
The site lists nine journals, but none has any content. Surprisingly, the editorial boards contain impressive lists of scholars. They include prominent academics from Harvard, Syracuse University, and Baylor College of Medicine. Something is wrong, for I am sure all the researchers listed as editorial board members did not agree to serve.
In any event, the duties of editorial board members are light, as shown in this screenshot from the site:
Editorial Board Duties
The first two seem to me to be contradictory.
The publisher gives this contact information: Corporate Headquarters OPEN ACCESS PUB, 3500 data [sic] drive [sic] Suite# No 138, Ranchocordova [sic], CA. A quick look at this address in Google Maps shows that it is an apartment complex. Do they really think anybody is going to send their research to an apartment complex?
All the text on the site is written in flowery language. An example is the generic description for one of the publisher’s journals:
Flowery language.
This description is silly. The journal title indicates a pretty narrow focus, but the journal description refers to a “broad range of topics of general interest.”
It is clear that this is basically a one-man operation now following the tried-and-true formula for setting up a bogus publisher to earn an income off of author fees (which in this publisher’s case are $540 per accepted article).
The open-access movement started with good will and good intentions. Unfortunately, it has now been co-opted by a bunch of corrupt schemers who threaten to destroy the foundation of scholarly communication. This newest publisher is evidence of the threat.
Hat tip: Sean Rands.
