Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches

Jan · March 30 2010, 02:02 AM

I know that a number of the folks here have done work on various Wikipedias so I thought this might be of interest, or rather, outrage.

These folks have decided to create Babylon 5 'books' based on Wikipedia searches.

And some from Star Trek searches.

A few about Stargate.

And so on. Just searching on one of the 'editors' names came up with over 18,000 results.

For *only* $40-$60 bucks each!

At first I pointed and laughed at the idea of books being created from searches but now Amazon has started emailing people who've bought B5 related books to push these things and it occurs to me that since they're supposed to be in stock and shipped from Amazon, it's likely that they're being printed by Amazon's POD arm.

This makes me sick, really. While I realize that it's probably perfectly within Wikipedia's Terms of Use (as far as I can see it is, even making a profit from that material), it's still a travesty.

The only thing I can think to do is post negative reviews on all of the B5 books and I invite anybody else who doesn't like the idea of these leeches profiting from the work of others to do the same.

Anybody care to join me?

Jan

Bones · April 1 2010, 04:12 PM

I don't entirely understand. So these are just books of Wikipedia articles selling for $40 each? If so, that's absolutely appalling.

Jan · April 1 2010, 05:09 PM

As far as I can tell, that's exactly what it is.

Jan

Lindley · April 1 2010, 05:28 PM

Contact Amazon. Maybe they can't legally remove these guys, but you at least might find someone willing to pull them from the recommendation engine.

Jan · April 1 2010, 05:58 PM

Anybody have a reliable way of contacting a non-drone at Amazon?

Although I'm pretty sure that it's Amazon's print-on-demand branch that's printing them if there's an order. How else could they be 'in stock' when the Betascript and Alphascript promises 'up-to-the-minute' searches?

Jan

David cgc · April 1 2010, 06:07 PM

There's an entry for Amazon at GetHuman.

Starbreaker · April 1 2010, 06:18 PM

Hey, if they can make money tricking people into buying something called Babylon 5 Episodes Characters Sheridan Valen ISN Deathwalker... whatever.

Lindley · April 1 2010, 07:05 PM

Some stuff here:
http://clicheideas.com/amazon.htm

I tried searching for "Amazon.com Complaint Department", but only came up with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Complaint-Depa.../dp/B000PBYMAI

Jan · April 1 2010, 11:05 PM

Thanks for taking the trouble, Lindley!

Jan

StarshipDefiant · April 2 2010, 06:33 AM

I actually have heard about this a few months ago, I cannot remember where I read it...but it's apparently so bad, that aside from some of the titles matching the Wikipedia pages, that the pages are literately still formatted in the wiki style of text format (with links, sidebars, dividers, etc...). In some instances, the various tabs and navigational bars are printed off to.

Pretty moronic.

Mr. Laser Beam · April 2 2010, 06:44 AM

Lindley wrote:

Contact Amazon. Maybe they can't legally remove these guys

Why not?

Doesn't Amazon have control over what they list for sale? And if a book like this is obviously a ripoff, can't something be done about it?

Hound of UIster · April 2 2010, 07:02 AM

This extends to more than B5 or Science Fiction, there is also a bunch of non-fiction books on amazon that consists nothing of copied wiki articles.

Mr. Laser Beam · April 2 2010, 07:05 AM

Some of these books even appear to have a notice on the cover that *says* it's taken from Wikipedia! What kind of dumbshit would actually fall for this?

ATimson · April 2 2010, 01:23 PM

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

Doesn't Amazon have control over what they list for sale? And if a book like this is obviously a ripoff, can't something be done about it?

More importantly, why would Amazon want to do something about it? They're not losing anything significant in hosting costs by listing them, and it's not like they're taking up space in a warehouse...

TheBrew · April 2 2010, 01:28 PM

Wait, if they are now publishing books based on Wiki articles, does that mean I can now cite Wiki as a book source in research papers?

March 30 2010, 02:02 AM	#1
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches I know that a number of the folks here have done work on various Wikipedias so I thought this might be of interest, or rather, outrage. These folks have decided to create Babylon 5 'books' based on Wikipedia searches. And some from Star Trek searches. A few about Stargate. And so on. Just searching on one of the 'editors' names came up with over 18,000 results. For only $40-$60 bucks each! At first I pointed and laughed at the idea of books being created from searches but now Amazon has started emailing people who've bought B5 related books to push these things and it occurs to me that since they're supposed to be in stock and shipped from Amazon, it's likely that they're being printed by Amazon's POD arm. This makes me sick, really. While I realize that it's probably perfectly within Wikipedia's Terms of Use (as far as I can see it is, even making a profit from that material), it's still a travesty. The only thing I can think to do is post negative reviews on all of the B5 books and I invite anybody else who doesn't like the idea of these leeches profiting from the work of others to do the same. Anybody care to join me? Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

April 1 2010, 04:12 PM	#2
Bones Commodore Location: Blighty, guv.	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches I don't entirely understand. So these are just books of Wikipedia articles selling for $40 each? If so, that's absolutely appalling. __________________ I keep getting banned. If it happens again to the point of no return (and you miss me so much that you're off your food), I can still be found among the cool dudes of the Anorak Zone: http://anorakzoneforum.informe.com/forum/ It's No Gahy Test.

April 1 2010, 05:09 PM	#3
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches As far as I can tell, that's exactly what it is. Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

April 1 2010, 05:28 PM	#4
Lindley Moderator with a Soul Location: Fairfax, VA	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Contact Amazon. Maybe they can't legally remove these guys, but you at least might find someone willing to pull them from the recommendation engine. __________________ Lead Organizer for EVN: Firefly. "So apparently the really smart zombies have automatic weapons!" -Torg, Sluggy Freelance

April 1 2010, 05:58 PM	#5
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Anybody have a reliable way of contacting a non-drone at Amazon? Although I'm pretty sure that it's Amazon's print-on-demand branch that's printing them if there's an order. How else could they be 'in stock' when the Betascript and Alphascript promises 'up-to-the-minute' searches? Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

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ABOUT US

April 1 2010, 06:07 PM	#6
David cgc Vice Admiral	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches There's an entry for Amazon at GetHuman. __________________ “I come here to have fun and fuck around merrily. I expect to showered by all kind of random crap.” — iguana_tonante

April 1 2010, 06:18 PM	#7
Starbreaker Fleet Admiral	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Hey, if they can make money tricking people into buying something called Babylon 5 Episodes Characters Sheridan Valen ISN Deathwalker... whatever.

April 1 2010, 07:05 PM	#8
Lindley Moderator with a Soul Location: Fairfax, VA	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Some stuff here: http://clicheideas.com/amazon.htm I tried searching for "Amazon.com Complaint Department", but only came up with this: http://www.amazon.com/Complaint-Depa.../dp/B000PBYMAI __________________ Lead Organizer for EVN: Firefly. "So apparently the really smart zombies have automatic weapons!" -Torg, Sluggy Freelance

April 1 2010, 11:05 PM	#9
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Thanks for taking the trouble, Lindley! Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

April 2 2010, 06:33 AM	#10
StarshipDefiant Captain	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches I actually have heard about this a few months ago, I cannot remember where I read it...but it's apparently so bad, that aside from some of the titles matching the Wikipedia pages, that the pages are literately still formatted in the wiki style of text format (with links, sidebars, dividers, etc...). In some instances, the various tabs and navigational bars are printed off to. Pretty moronic. __________________ Mal: I aim to misbehave Whiskey: I know where to find food. In the kitchen. Bennett: D-did you just...try to tase me?

April 2 2010, 07:02 AM	#12
Hound of UIster Rear Admiral	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches This extends to more than B5 or Science Fiction, there is also a bunch of non-fiction books on amazon that consists nothing of copied wiki articles.

April 2 2010, 07:05 AM	#13
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Some of these books even appear to have a notice on the cover that says it's taken from Wikipedia! What kind of dumbshit would actually fall for this? __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

April 2 2010, 01:28 PM	#15
TheBrew Vice Admiral Location: Fox Lady	Re: Bogus Books Based on Wiki Searches Wait, if they are now publishing books based on Wiki articles, does that mean I can now cite Wiki as a book source in research papers? __________________ Sing glorious, victorious, One keg of beer for the four of us. Sing glory be to God that there are no more of us, For one of us could drink it all alone. Damn near.