QUOTE(thekohser @ Tue 13th October 2009, 8:18pm)
I now discover that this was discussed, and flippantly dismissed by goth-giant David Gerard, on the
Foundation-l mailing list, circa August 2009. It was also apparently a topic raised at
the Village Pump on Wikipedia in June 2009.
I'm sure I've seen this discussed before then , but perhaps not in reference to this particular publisher. Maybe it was in relation to eBay sales. My memory is hazy.
QUOTE(thekohser @ Wed 14th October 2009, 8:11pm)
So, call me crazy, but I reported Alphascript Publishing to the GNU Foundation, to Amazon's legal department, and to the Federal Trade Commission. I also later notified Mike Godwin about how every Alphascript cover on the copied-from-Wikipedia books has a green sticker that says "High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles!" But, Mike was offended that I'd bring this to his attention. He said, "What the hell is wrong with you?" I guess he doesn't care when for-profit publishers shit on the Wikipedia trade name and deceptively use Amazon to repurpose Wikipedia content for profit.
Anyway, I got an e-mail reply from the "Dr. John McBrewster" whose e-mail was "legal@alphascript-publishing.com":
QUOTE
Last month we earned 2,3 billion US Dollars with Alphascript books, this month probably 8-10 billions. Next month > 100. If you are one of these poor U.S. citizens without health care insurance I can give you some $$ for your visit at the psychiatrist. Otherwise ask your President to send some military officers to my country on their way to Irak.
Wow. Alphascript this month will be making more than Comcast does. That's impressive!
Hey, wait. Amazon. Godwin. Jimbo. Wikia. Amazon invested $10 million in Wikia. Amazon is hosting Alphascript's deceptive content for profit. Hey, I think I see what might be going on here!
Aha! So Dr McBrewster must be one of the editors to avoid infringing the license. I am a little surprised that Dr McBrewster didn't offer you a share of the money if you would deposit a cheque in your bank account and wire him the rest.