[Wikipl-l] Fwd: [Foundation-l] Alphascript Publishing: 1900+ copy&pasted books fromWikipedia

[picus-viridis]

Ot, ciekawostka - jak zarobić na Wikipedii. Sprawdziłem jedną z ofert na brytyjskim Amazonie - tekst o Timorze Wschodnim żywcem zerżnięty z enwiki.

Picus viridis

> It was raised before on the Village Pump, but I think this is so disturbing
> that we ought to do something.
> 
> "Alphascript Publishing" has published over 1900 (and counting) books, all
> available on Amazon. Prices range from $31 to $179. All of these books are
> simple computer-generated copies from Wikipedia and (at least according to
> one Amazon reviewer) couple other public domain websites. Trouble is, from
> book description page there is absolutely no way of knowing that the book is
> a Wikipedia mirror on paper. At least several Amazon buyers have been
> fooled. What really gets my blood boiling is that Amazon user "VDM Verlag
> Dr.Müller" (I think someone exposed him as 100% shareholder of the
> publishing co) goes on rating these products as "five star"....
> 
> The publisher seems to observe the copyright (even includes full edit
> history) so legal action seems impossible. Someone already contacted Amazon,
> but they "are not responsible for the quality of books sold". In the
> meantime the number of such books grew from 900 in June to almost 2000 as of
> today... I think we should do something. At the very least publishing
> product reviews warning that what this is....
> 
> See:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:PrimeHunter/Alphascript_Publishing_sells_free_articles_as_expensive_books
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(miscellaneous)/Archive_20#The_Alphascript-Amazon-Wikipedia_book_hoax
> http://rufftoon.livejournal.com/59337.html
> 
> Thanks,
> Renata
> 
> P.S. on a happier note: half of Wikipedia editors now can claim to be
> "published authors".