Will a journal blacklist you if you withdraw an article which is under review?

Question

A while back, I (along with my collaborator) submitted an article for publication in an esteemed journal. A few weeks after the submission, I came to know that the journal is an open-access journal and, therefore, requires an APC charge if the article gets accepted.

After the first review report (which was in favor of publication), we mailed the editor to ask if the APC charge could be waived, considering that both of us are students and can not afford such a high value (considering the exchange rate between the countries). We didn't get any reply from the mail, so we paused the inquiry and submitted the revision to the article.

However, we are now worried that withdrawing would cause us a poor reputation and perhaps put us on a blacklist for the journal and its associates.

I would like some suggestions. What can we do? Shall we go along and wait for the second report to come and ask after acceptance whether there is a waiver or not? Or should we withdraw now since we don't have funds anyway? Or should I send a reminder to the editor? What if he says no?

Answer 1

A reputable journal would treat you fairly in the future, so I assume that isn't an issue.

If you haven't yet signed over copyright or given a license of your paper, then the journal can't refuse your withdrawal. They have no rights to the paper. They wont be happy, having spent some resources, but it happens often enough that it is a cost of business, not a cause for retribution.

In future, you should be more careful in researching venues for publication and understand the issues before you submit.

You should explain the situation to the editor, that you are unable to pay open-access fees and that if they can't be waived that you need to withdraw the article, with apologies.

Some journals will waive some charges in some circumstances. And, once you give a license (or copyright), the journal has those rights.

Answer 2

This won't reflect well on you, but it won't get you blacklisted either. You might get blacklisted if you confirm the APC (the journal will probably send you an "APC confirmation" before acceptance affirming what the APC should be), let the paper get accepted (even worse, published), and then tell them you can't pay. You've not reached that point yet, so it's not likely they blacklist.

In the meantime there's nothing to do but wait for a response from the journal. There's no need to withdraw until they say they won't waive the APC, and the onus is on them to not accept the paper while the APC is unresolved.

Answer 3

"transfer" is an option! An editor may transfer a manuscript under review to a different journal for valid reasons, such as it being more appropriate, an I immagine they could also transfer it to one with a subscription model, without the need to withdraw.

But to answer the question, no you would absolutely not be blacklisted if you simply explain that you can't afford APCs.

Answer 4

It is better to complete the entire submission process and strive for paper acceptance. I do not know if this is the case for you, some journals may implement a reduced fee policy for researchers from developing countries.

Reaching the acceptance stage and later encountering challenges with financing the fees is likely to be viewed more positively than preemptively withdrawing the paper due to fee constraints. This is because you will have completed all scientific inquiries requested by reviewers and the editor. Then, the rest is the administrative part of the editorial process.

It's improbable that journals maintain a blacklist policy. Nevertheless, it's important to recognize that editors are human. I've encountered instances where individuals, who may remember minor details, use their influence to impede the publication of papers presenting competing theories or literature. I don't believe this is the case in your situation.