-----Original Message----- From: Renata St <renatawiki(a)gmail.com> To: English Wikipedia <wikien-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>rg>; Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List <foundation-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> Sent: Thu, Aug 13, 2009 3:10 pm Subject: [WikiEN-l] Alphascript Publishing: 1900+ copy&pasted books from Wikipedia 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 wa rning that what this is.... See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:PrimeHunter/Alphascript_Publishing_sells_… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(miscellaneous)/Archive… 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".>> _______________________________________________ Renata I'm not sure to what you're objecting. Our contents are republishable. The author is certainly free to rate his own work five stars. What's the issue here? Will Johnson _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l

The publisher seems to observe the copyright (even includes full edit history) so legal action seems impossible.

I wouldn't be against Wikipedia having its own range of print works provided they were profitable and all funds were ploughed back into the Foundation. But I certainly don't think it would be a good idea if it were purely motivated by trying to compete someone out of the market.