I've just had a PM exchange with one of the users here regarding changing the Title of an entry in the database to "Remove from DB".

The origin of this "dispute" was that I had just bought a DVD and when I entered the UPC in Profiler it came up as... "Remove from DB".

In his contribution notes the user says (UPCs removed from quote to protect the user):

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As best as I can tell, this version doesn't exist. The correct UPC is XXXXXX-XXXXXX. Remove from DB.

(declined), and

Quote:
Real UPC is XXXXXX-XXXXXX. Doesn't seem to have been released under this UPC. Remove from DB.

(approved)

In the PM exchange the followed, one of his arguments was

Quote:
We can never know any UPC doesn't exist. When  see something that's been in the DB for years, lacking most info, including rear cover scans and have never been updated and no owners object when I put in a request to remove it, it a safe bet it wasn't released under that UPC in the US, though.

I would like to strongly discourage anyone from attempting to have entries removed on the above grounds. There are countless entries in the database that are lacking in most info, but are nevertheless totally bona fide entries. It is, in fact, one of the strong points of Profiler that it does contain many titles and UPCs that are rare and that not many people own. It would be a great loss if we started to remove them from the database solely on the supposition that it's wrong because it hasn't been updated.

I hope the majority agrees on this. <Steps off the soapbox>

Quoting DJ Doena:

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I always thought the only valid reasons to remove a profile are an invalid UPC or invalid UPC/locality pair or an obvious bootleg.

That was my understanding as well!

Quoting Ace_of_Sevens:

Quote:
If a title has been in the DB for years and is clearly lacking data or has bad data, has never been updated and has cover scans that either don't have a back or show the wrong UPC, chances are it doesn't exist.

Just out of curiosity: How do you find such titles?

Quoting DJ Doena:

Quote:
I always thought the only valid reasons to remove a profile are an invalid UPC or invalid UPC/locality pair or an obvious bootleg.

+1

I see no reason what-so-ever to request the removal of a profile on those grounds.

What harm does it do to keep it?

Quoting Forget_the_Rest:

Quote:
It can however, help users identify if a title in their collection is set to the wrong region for example.

Yes, but we're not talking about a misidentified region or locality here.

I think we must be careful about asking.

I saw one that asked to be removed, because the scan was wrong (wrong locality).  The other information was correct.

I did a audit, and updated the information that needed it any way, created new scans and submitted the update.

I then PM'd the user and informed him.  He withdrew the request.  If I hadn't been aware, that title could have very easily been removed.

Charlie

I've got to agree with the others, I don't like the idea of removing profiles just because they're not updated and seem to be unused. I've only ever requested removals when a profile has been a bootleg or on the wrong locality, and in those cases I always make sure a profile on the correct locality exists.

If you're worried about these old profiles interfering with CLT results, why not just update the cast and crew so the data matches the film?