Comment on More Duplicate Journal Titles by R.V. Krishnakumar

Dear Dr.Beall – ISSN just gives any serial publication an identification number something similar to a Post Office registering (not empowered to providing!) an address for a newly built home. The job of ISSN ends there, I think. ISSN acts as a Post Office and it can’t act on what is happening inside these ‘homes’, irrespective of whether it is located in a posh area (Nature, Science, etc.) or a slum (predatory OAs). If ISSN where to be a farce as claimed by an unscrupulous blogger named ‘Robin Hood’ (I request that you have a check on this possible imposter who might well be a predatory OA editor himself and yet sheds crocodile tears in this forum), distinguished journals such as Nature and Science would not be carrying it. And, this forum is helpful to the gullible (if they really are!) to ascertain themselves about where they are ending up with their publication. Thanks to your detailed criteria which is handy to distinguish between the good and bad. All my colleagues are now aware of your good work and I believe they would use it to their best. It is here, the parameter called ‘impact factor’ plays a useful role. Impact factor is a parameter and doesn’t require an ISO. Also, I don’t foresee any grave danger out of these fake OA’s since a worthy scholar would not allow himself to be preyed upon by a fraudster OA. To put it in a nutshell – “Nothing is misty in one’s room unless he is too heavily drunk”. Is my understanding right?