Revenue from Article Processing Charges (APC)

analysis of Brazilian journals with indications of poor editorial practices

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2025.1230

Keywords:

Predatory editorial practices, Scientific communication, Scientific journals, Article processing charges (APC)

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the revenue generated by the collection of Article Processing Charges (APCs) in Brazilian journals with indications of poor editorial practices, based on data from previous studies. Method. An exploratory approach with a qualitative-quantitative methodology was adopted. Data were collected from journal websites and supplemented with information from OpenAlex. Results. All journals analyzed require APC payments, with no fee waiver policies. Revenue ranged from R$ 62,000.00 / US$ 11,356.63 to over R$ 17,000,000.00 / US$ 3,130,430.35, indicating substantial and growing income. Conclusions. Some journals have consolidated themselves as business models, leveraging Open Access and scientific evaluation to publish large volumes of articles through APC payments. The scenario reinforces the urgency of discussing predatory editorial practices and their impact on equity and the quality of scientific communication.

Author Biographies

Fhillipe de Freitas Campos, Universidade de Brasília (UnB)

Bachelor in Library Science (2018) and Master's student in Information Science (2023–) at the University of Brasília. Works as a Librarian and Researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (Ibict) and at the Executive Secretariat of the Open University of the Unified Health System (SE UNA SUS), participating in projects related to Open Access, Open Science, Scientific Journals, and Digital Repositories. Main areas of interest: Digital libraries and repositories; Scientific journals; Open Access movement for scientific information; Open Science movement; Scientific communication; Right of access to information.

João de Melo Maricato, Universidade de Brasília (UnB)

Faculty member at the School of Information Science (FCI) at the University of Brasília (UnB) and permanent professor in the Graduate Program in Information Science at UnB (PPGCinf), where he supervises master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral research. He is a CNPq Level 2 Research Productivity Fellow. Currently, he is conducting postdoctoral research at Leiden University, at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Costas. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Brasília, under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Suzana Mueller. His academic career includes research stays at the University of California and Leiden University. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Science from the School of Communications and Arts at the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP), where he was awarded the USP Outstanding Dissertation Prize in the field of Applied Social Sciences. His academic background includes a Bachelor's degree in Library and Information Science from the Federal University of São Carlos. In terms of academic management, he has served as Vice Dean of the School of Information Science and as coordinator of the Graduate Program in Information Science at UnB. He was Editor of the journal Comunicação Informação (UFG) and is currently Editor of the Revista Eletrônica de Comunicação, Informação e Inovação em Saúde (Reciis). He acts as a reviewer for several recognized academic journals, including Scientometrics, Journal of Scientometric Research, Anales de Documentación, Transinformação, and Revista em Questão, and has also worked as an ad hoc evaluator for the University of São Paulo Press. He is currently one of the leaders of the Scientific Communication Research Group at UnB and a member of the Research Group on Technologies for the Construction of Observatories at IBICT. He has also worked as a faculty member in the Graduate Program in Communication at UFG, where he coordinated the specialization course in Information Management and Evaluation. His areas of expertise include: Information and Communication Technologies applied to data production, extraction, processing, and analysis; Science communication and dissemination; Construction and analysis of indicators; Bibliometric, scientometric, and altmetric methods and techniques; Studies on the relationship between science and technology; Evaluation of graduate programs; Studies on interdisciplinarity supported by indicators; Indicators of science internationalization; Coverage of bibliometric and altmetric databases; Correlations between bibliometric and altmetric indicators; and the relationship between science, technology, and society.

F´ábio Lorensi do Canto, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)

Ph.D. (2022) and M.Sc. (2018) in Information Science from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Holds a Bachelor's degree in Library Science – Information Management from the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC, 2005) and a Law degree from CESUSC College (2012). Works as a Librarian/Documentalist at the Central Library of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and as a substitute lecturer in the Department of Library Science at the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC). He is a research fellow at the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (Ibict).

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Published

2026-02-03

How to Cite

Campos, F. de F., Maricato, J. de M., & Canto, F. L. do. (2026). Revenue from Article Processing Charges (APC): analysis of Brazilian journals with indications of poor editorial practices. Biblios Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, (88), e010. https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2025.1230

Issue

No. 88 (2025)

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Original

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Copyright (c) 2026 Fhillipe de Freitas Campos, João de Melo Maricato, F´ábio Lorensi do Canto

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