Band Bio copied from Wikipedia?
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Topic: Band Bio copied from Wikipedia?
Posted By: npjnpj
Subject: Band Bio copied from Wikipedia?
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 06:35
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I only just noticed that the bio of Shadow Gallery is taken word for word from Wikipedia.
I haven't bothered to check other bios yet, but is this generally done, and if so, is it acceptable?
I have doubts about the legitimacy of this, especially as this is not acknowledged anywhere.
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Replies:
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 06:38
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From what I understand, this is definitely not a legal practice, as it has been plagiarized from Wikipedia. You're allowed to use anything as a source for information, but definitely not copy it word for word.
I really have no idea if this has been done for any other artist pages, and I hope not 
(Note: I hope I don't sound like I'm being rude towards you!  )
-Joel ------------- 
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Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 06:41
| Rude? How? |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 06:44
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As I believe anyone can edit Wikipedia, what is the legal copyright situation with regard to Wikipedia entries?
Also, it's possible that the person who wrote the Wiki entry copied it to PA.
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 06:45
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Maybe the person who wrote the bio here also wrote it for Wikipedia? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 08:33
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I was of the impression that Wikipedia information was open domain. But I don't know for sure. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 08:45
Exactly. So it could be the same author. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Negoba wrote:Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 08:46
Sorry for repeating you...we posted at roughly the same time!  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 10:21
| Great minds think alike Ian. |
Posted By: Rivertree
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 10:33
 ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Rivertree" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:34
But you do have to cite it.
I have heard that the whole genre definitions used to plagiarized, so it doesn't surprise me that some more instances slipped through the cracks. Hell, while not plagiarism, the post-rock definition is still the Wikipedia article, which I think is really lame. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:35
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I know Certified has written for both PA and Wiki.. that aside, IMO all PA bios should be original if only on priciple, I'd rather see a simple original bio than a detailed but plagiarised one
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:38
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I believe that there used to be/are a number of bios that are the same on PA and on AllMusic Guide, but it is my understanding that the author on AllMusic Guide is the son of one of PAs founders. Is it possible that the definitions on Wiki are the same as the ones on AllMusic guide too? ------------- 
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:52
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Is it allowed to copy bio from Wiki or somewhere else and give the link where the information is taken from? I think, for originally written bios, it's also worth to point out the sources used for preparing articles. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:55
Thats a very big could, isn't it? Why isn't the Wikipedia URL just added onto the end of the bio then? Just like this: Biography sourced from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Gallery - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Gallery -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:57
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Write it here first. Wiki is useful, but they don't deserve first copy when it comes to prog even if you are the author of both entries. Better yet, screw Wiki altogether. If someone wants to use us as a source for a Wiki entry, fine as long as you don't plagiarize.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 14:58
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Shadow Gallery were probably with the original group of bands added to the site at the beginning of its existence. I wasn't here, but I have heard it mentioned that many of the bios were taken from elsewhere at the time. Since then there have been a number of people that have come along and re-wrote the bios. I know that at least some of the genre teams have made it a point of re-writing them all to clean them up. I want to say that the Prog Metal team was doing that for awhile, but then got bogged down with new suggestions and members leaving the team, etc... -------------
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 15:04
And I have some problems with the style of some of the bios, particularly the effusive Tool and Neal Morse bios, but that's probably not going to be fixed any time soon and plagiarism is more important. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 15:12
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When we took Symphonic, we found more than 100 plagiarized bios. We deleted all and made them again, because we believe that if we are N| 1 sitte, we must be original. Now, in some cases I asked the band members to write a bio and they sent one previously used, but in this case we can't do anything, because the author is credited and is a band member. Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 15:17
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Yeah, well Neal Morse's bio was lifted from his website so one can't expect objectivity. Back when this site was first being built, I believe that the common practice was to lift from other sources without proper accreditation (or any in many cases). It was a way to quickly build up the site, and this is before building up a sizable volunteer base. From what I think, once the volunteers were in place, then the standards became stricter. Now there are many volunteers to work on the site and there are quite high expectations for the work they submit. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 17:17
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It's perfectly legal to take information from Wikipedia while crediting the source. Here is what says on Wikipedia about the licensing of their content: "All text in Wikipedia was covered by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Free_Documentation_License - GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL), a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyleft - copyleft license permitting the redistribution, creation of derivative works, and commercial use of content while authors retain copyright of their work, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia#cite_note-129 - [130] up until June 2009, when the site switched to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons - Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-by-SA) 3.0. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia#cite_note-130 - [131] " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia#License_and_language_editions - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia#License_and_language_editions Creative Commons are different than copyright. This is what that particular kind of license means: You are free:
Under the following conditions:
Notice — For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. The best way to do this is with a link to this web page. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 18:18
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From what I understand, PA prefers that we write our own bios, if you qoute someone else, then give proper credit.
Someone might want to steer Bob to this thread to make sure on this. |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 19:04
------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 21:23
You're not the only one who loathes plagiarism. I do too. At the very least, the source should have been cited. If Morse had been asked if it could be used, then it should have said that it was copied from his website with his permission. |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 21:45
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The funny thing is that it's from 2004, so it's not even up to date promotional material on an objective resource! ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 06 2009 at 23:45
Would you like to offer something more constructive? For example re-write some plagiarized bios. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 04:33
For real, anyone can help fix our bios. If you see a plagirized bio that needs to be replaced, please write an original bio and send it to me and said plagarized bio will be replaced, pronto. |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 04:47
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Alrighty, I'll give re-writing this one a crack then!
Check back here for another post from me in 5 to 10 minutes. -------------
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Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 05:12
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Shadow Gallery biography:
Shadow Gallery is a progressive metal band, which formed in Pennsylvania (USA) in the 1980's, originally under the name "Sorcerer". After changing their name to Shadow Gallery, the band recorded an 8-track demo, which helped them sign to Magna Carta Records in 1991. The band released their first proper EP of tracks a year later, with copies being sold in Europe and Japan aswell. In late 1993, the band recruited a new musician to their course - Keyboardist and guitarist Gary Wehrkamp, and in 1994, added another virtuoso to their palette, drummer Kevin Soffera. In 1995, the band released their second proper studio recording: CARVED IN STONE. Shortly after, Shadow Gallery released another full length recording, titled TYRANNY (1998). This is a concept album, concerning itself deeply with politics. This album also features a guest appearance from vocalist James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER). To follow up their latest hit, the band released LEGACY in 2001. Many fans consider this to be a marked change, displaying a more progressive, technical and focussed Shadow Gallery. This was the band's last recording under Magna Carta Records. This album also features many tracks with a more commercial taste, and although released between to concept records, stands as a collection of songs. In 2005, the band returned with ROOM V, another concept record made to pick up where Tyranny's narrative left off. Many consider this album to be the band's ultimate success, only challenged by their 2009 release, DIGITAL GHOSTS. ROOM V also featured more guest work, mainly in the form of Arjen Lucassen (AYREON) on vocals for sections, and also contributing a guitar solo. The band followed up their dark concept record with 2009's DIGITAL GHOSTS, another smash hit amongst metal fans. Many consider this to be their best album, and this also features a new member, vocalist Brian Ashland. This album blends symphonic rock, metal and progressive technical metal seemlessly. Shadow Gallery can easily be enjoyed by any (prog) metal fan, and is one of the best prog acts of the decade. Current Lineup: Gary Wehrkamp - Piano, guitars, keyboards, vocals Brendt Allman - Guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals Carl Cadden-James - Bass, vocals, flute, fretless bass Chris Ingles - Piano, keyboards Joe Nevolo - Drums Brian Ashland - Vocals Former members: Mike Baker - Vocals Kevin Soffera - Drums DISCOGRAPHY: -SHADOW GALLERY - 1992 -CARVED IN STONE - 1995 -TYRANNY - 1998 -LEGACY - 2001 -ROOM V - 2005 -DIGITAL GHOSTS - 2009 Shadow Gallery official website - http://www.shadowgallery.com/ - http://www.shadowgallery.com/ (Biography by Joel G, Australia) Hope thats good enough - Couple of details missing, but I was working solely from the band's homepage biography. -------------
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Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 05:19
Thanks Joel 
...um..., they're not real easy on the eyes, are they? ha, ha |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 05:54
Not particularly 
Thanks for adding it Easy Money
Problem resolved everyone? -------------
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 14:50
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nice bio pkj, but it took you well over 20 minutes to post it so I'm afraid it won't be going up, sorry
that's a little joke |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 15:55
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You can't rush art
Do we have an easy way to find other bios which have been plagiarised? -------------
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: November 07 2009 at 20:32
Ideally we should heve our own bios.... but it's simpler said than done.
Personally I don't have much a prpblem with Wiki or artistes site bios as long as they are dully credited .....
Bios coming from another source should be not only dully accredited burt also the permission asked. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: November 08 2009 at 00:02
I think commenting on a problem is constructive enough. Sometimes things don't get done unless somebody screams. ;-)
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: November 08 2009 at 02:22
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^ That's true, somebody have to say we have a problem. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 08 2009 at 10:52
No you're not the only one. I've had tons of my stuff ripped off from this site. Both from reviews and bios. Why can't these monkeys think up their own sh*t. What's the point of just copying something that came out of another person's head. You could get kicked out of university for plagarism for Christ sakes but in the real world it doesn' t seem to apply. Mabye all these monkeys got kicked out of university. I also write about aviation topics and just for a joke I go to Wikipedia. I can't believe all the errors. It seems that if someone writing for Wikipedia doesn't know a specific fact they'll just go and make it up. I just came across a review here on PA yesterday that was copied partially from a band's Myspace page. I dunno. ------------- |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: November 15 2009 at 13:26
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I think I've noticed that some people write their own bios on wikipedia as a sort of shameful self promotion. After all, if they are trying to impress someone and that someone sees them on wiki, they might be impressed |