For what it's worth, on the topic of copying cast/crew from other profiles, Ken said the following here:
http://www.invelos.com/Forums.aspx?task=viewtopic&topicID=169361&PageNum=4

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Copying cast and crew entries from another entries is permissable.  Just list that as your source.  You should try to verify that the version of the film is the same before the copy, and be sure to check the contribution notes of the source profile.

(Bold types are mine.)

And then, as a response to a question of mine:

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Quoting Behemot:

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Ken, I take this to mean that if the contribution notes of the source profile do NOT specify the actual credits as source for the data, then the data from the source profile MUST be checked before submitting the new profile?

Just make sure your notes are accurate - if the source profile indicates a correct source, put that in the contribution notes.

Quoting GSyren:

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Ken doesn't say that this applies to updating profiles that you don't own. If it does, then he is - in my view - contradicting the rules, and needs to update the rules to make it clear that this is ok.

I partly agree with you, but he doesn't forbid it either. The big question is whether it's ok to use the MOVIE CREDITS (i.e. from any release, be it a previous same-region DVD release, a DVD from a different locality, a VHS copy, a movie recorded off TV) or only the credits of the actual DVD that you have in your computer/player.

A definitive statement from Ken or update of the rules would indeed be clarifying and greatly appreciated! 

Again, for what it's worth, I personally believe that for most movies the credits would be the same, but I too know there are differences between regions, for example some Italian movies can have Italian credits on some releases and English credits on some releases, animated films have different voice actors in different regions, etc. I do believe, though, that if some users were to try and fix incorrect online profiles from other regions than their own DVD, then these users would stay away from movies where chances are big that the credits are different. Like skip has said earlier, fixing multiple incorrect online profiles would be a major project, and I don't think many users would want to spend so much of their time doing this repetitive work. Those who WOULD spend their time this way would most likely just want to try and help the database, and would hopefully therefore avoid correcting profiles they were in doubt were the same.

I PM'd Gerri and received a response. She indicates she'll post in this thread later today.

Quoting northbloke:

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She'll probably need a couple of days just to read it! 

And an antacid. 

A contribution has been submitted for The Truman Show, UPC:  8-010773-200011, Locality: Italy. 

The contribution note says: "Source for data R1 097363=311270".


Among other things, the contributor removed the following Crew members:

"Johannes Brahms: Composer"

 

"Frédéric Chopin: Composer"

 

"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Composer"

 


I am going to check some other changes, but I'll bet that contribution is indeed a substantial improvement for that profile. 

EDIT: I checked the other changes in the Crew list, and they are all correct.

Thanks, Gerri.

Quoting northbloke:

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OK, so that pretty much nixes that idea - any other ideas for how to try and tidy up the database?

One idea I had, and I'm not sure if this is possible/legal! But I remember from way back there used to be a plugin that would download the cast & crew from IMDB and import it into a profile.
I was wondering if it could be adapted so instead of adding it to a profile, it would compare them side by side instead and we could get an idea of how closely a profile matches IMDB.
That way we could maybe have a very quick way of checking how genuine a specific profile may be.
What do you guys think? Is this something that could be done?

Ummm...that would still be data scraping and therefore illegal wouldn't it? I don't think it matters to IMdb what your purpose might be for scraping their data???

Quoting Gerri Cole:

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In general we don't recommend submitting cast and crew for DVDs that you don't own because there can be discrepancies between localities, editions, and cuts (for example) and it can be difficult to validate without actually owning the DVD.

Quoting m.cellophane:

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Thanks, Gerri.

I just hope that doesn't mean I now have to look forward to another 10 pages of this thread arguing about the phrase "In general we don't recommend".