In a recent case, an author found themselves entangled with a predatory journal after unknowingly submitting a review article to Journal X. Upon submission, the author was startled by an unexpected invoice and the absence of peer review, prompting an investigation revealing the journal's predatory nature.
Despite diligent attempts to communicate via email, phone calls, and certified letters, the author received no response from the journal or its editorial board. The manuscript intermittently vanished and resurfaced on the journal's website, exacerbating the author's concerns. Notably, no copyright agreement was signed, and no fees were paid for publication.
Following advice from COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), the author sought to publish the manuscript in a legitimate journal, possibly accompanied by an editorial note detailing the ordeal. While legal action was considered, it was not pursued due to university counsel's reservations and communication challenges with the predatory journal.
In a decisive move, the author directly contacted the publisher, demanding the immediate removal of the article under threat of legal action. Subsequently, the publisher complied, and the author proceeded with submission to a reputable journal, assured that the specter of duplicate publication no longer loomed.
This case underscores the persistence required to rectify encounters with predatory practices in academic publishing and highlights the importance of due diligence in journal selection.