I recently have been trying to add a DVD Collection Box Set of  Harry Potter "Years 1-5" to the list... 

I really just started doing it only for myself to enter cast and crew, cover images, and filling in all the standard info and only contributed when I saw the requester pop up at the end asking if I want to submit it.

I just finnaly clicked a few links and saw one that showed all past contributions I've made and saw that one was rejected based on "entering actor's names" from a "3rd Party source"

While now I realize the rules (I didnt before.. but then again I didnt really strive to contribute for the sake of contributing to this ... so thus wouldnt have even seeked out the rules listed)

...  it was a lot of entering.  I consider IMDB.com the primary source for all movies as far as screen credits goes.  Its quite unlike any other database out there.

If we (this site) go strictly by the movie's end credits mistakes will happen a lot more than not. 
For example Thomas G. Waites  is in many films I have but the profiles I downloaded have him listed as:

G. Waites
Thomas Waites
Tom Waites
Tom G. Waites

The end result is an "inaccurate" count of film credits.  This isn't the only actor in which I've encountered with this either.

Moreover...  I spent a good while entering actor's and crew names from IMDB.  Most of that was double checked against the SAME movies which were listed independantly and verified by myself which I initially downloaded (but since deleted) from entering the titles by hand when the UPC on my Box Set did not match.

(In other words..  when I noticed the Harry Potter Years 1-5 Box set did not exist,  I hand entered the names of the movies via the search box and used them in the Box Set list temporarily until I could find the time to scan the covers (which were different) and enter all the information related to the film which I did get from the back of each DVD as well as the Box all 5 came in and then further verified it by IMDB.com for the sake of checking)

The film that was rejected from contributing is listed below.. 

Year 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  (rejection reason was that I used a "3rd party" database to enter the actor's crew' names)
  I believe the images were accepted ---  I think.  My cover image is different than the "stand alone dvd image" of the movie.

Movie that I recently completed submitting and what brought me here today:

Year 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
(Entered the actor list from IMDB but did compare it to a profile of the original movie to see if anything was different.)

Let me just say this.  There is a LOT and I mean a (freaking) LOT of actors in either one and both of these movies. 
  There is also a LOT of crew members and production companies and sound/artists that worked on the film.  Put it this way.  I didnt and  couldnt enter them all in by hand even as I was copying and pasteing some names here and there.
 
After reading the rules..  I came to the conclusion Im not gonna resubmit these two here...  There is no way Im gonna sit and strain my eyes and pause every two seconds and get that big a....  list of actors and write it down. 

I feel IMDB has already accomplished this task as their list was submitted by the very people that made the movies (go check ) As its considered the top dog of movie/actor database on the planet.

I'd be entering names for weeks just for one of those movies. 

So if anyone else wants to take over entering it..  go to Walmart and get  Harry Potter Years 1-5 and make sure you got a monitor that doesnt make the end credit list look "fuzzy" or "blurry"  or make you see bugs crawling on the monitor which really aren't there  (stare at a paused screen for two solid hours trying to find an actor's name and see what I mean   )

And Im not gonna argue with Invelos.  Heh.  Their rules are their rules.  I just wish they'd actually use the IMDB themselves to verifiy and check..  but I'm not here to rock a boat or change a rule.

I just wanted to get this box set listed so it might save someone else the time if they went out and got it.

Interestingly enough.. I saw where someone had already entered "Years 1-6"  Box set..    Heh..  I wonder how that person's eyes are after that glorious day of typing. 

Im not kidding..  there is a LOT of daang actors in these two films.  Sheesh.  You thought Star Wars was bad?  Good God

And I got 3 more to go!   

Well I'm gonna enter them anyway my way..  they can reject them or not.  Least I got the dang images scanned for all of them now!  (Woohoo!)

No more blank spots to stare at!  :D

Quoting Multiview:

Quote:
(stare at a paused screen for two solid hours trying to find an actor's name and see what I mean   )

Only two hours? I'm jealous.

What concerns me is he said...

Quoting Multiview:

Quote:

Well I'm gonna enter them anyway my way..  they can reject them or not.   Least I got the dang images scanned for all of them now!  (Woohoo!)

No more blank spots to stare at!  :D

See the sentence I put in bold. Unless I am reading it wrong it seems he is going to continue to use imdb and continue to submit to our database. 

You know the rules now... but still going to do it your way and leave it up to the system to approve or not? 

Our CLT results will be getting even worse by any that slips in! 

You do realize you can always submit before doing cast.crew... and then lock your cast and crew locally to have your imdb data in place locally.

You can do everything you want to your LOCAL database. Use any sources you like, add what every you want including cover scans. Once you do that to your satisfaction, lock your LOCAL database down so that invelos does not override any of your work.

To lock everything down for your LOCAL database is quite easy. All you need to do is go to the top of the screen to "Collection" > "Flags" > "Flag All Filtered". Once all your profiles are flagged go to "Flagged" > "Set Locks". You can then lock any or all sections for all your movies. Once you have done that just go back and "Unflag All".

By doing this you will be satisfied that everything you have LOCALLY is the way you want it.

You will notice the words I capitalized. It is important to understand the the rules do not pertain to data that you keep only for yourself, in your LOCAL database.

It is only when you contribute to others, the ONLINE database that the rules must be followed. If you do not wish to follow the established guidelines, do not contribute.

Invelos has developed these rules so that a standard is followed so that there is consistency in how and what is contributed ONLINE.

If you don't agree, that is no problem because, as I detailed above, you can keep your database the way you want to as can everyone else.

I know that the database is not perfect - what is? But, it is important for the community that uses it that the members follow the established rules. If there are changes you wish to see, you can submit them to "Feature Requests" which is found here: http://www.invelos.com/Forums.aspx

I know how frustrating it can be to do tons of work and then realize that it was not acceptable. I hope I have made this issue a little clearer.

If you have further questions or concerns - feel free to ask. The community is quite helpful and can assist you in many ways.

I hope you realize that most if not all of the above mentioned movies are already accepted into the database, under different localities (titles might differ too) and/or UPC/EANs. You are allowed to copy existing information to your new profiles simply by using copy and paste and then state your sources in your contribution notes.

Note: It's probably wise NOT to enter (uncredited) actors without proof since that's a sure way of getting them rejected. Also avoid submitting unnecessary birth years.

Not to mention the use that the OP is describing is a violation of the IMDB's terms of service as well as Invelos' rules.

Maybe it is just me... the way I look at things. But after publicly stating he was going to contribute his way... despite the rules. (paraphrasing of course)... If I was Invelos I would ban him from contributing. I know I would always be concerned about his contributions from this point on.

Agree 100% with you on this Pete. There is absolutly no reasons to contribute data who are forbidden by the rules (like them or not), even more when a user announce that he will place DVDP at risk by copying imdb data.

Everybody know that I don't agree with many things in the database, but I don't violate the rules or the terms of service because I disagree. I keep my stuff for myself and leave the DVDP database as it is.