Who is "locking" the Synopsis pages?

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Do certain contributors have administrative privileges which allow them to lock the Synopsis page for certain TV series with a "This Synopsis topic is currently locked" banner? ("The Bridge" and "Sons of Anarchy" are two such.)

In no instances of the locking of the synopses has there been any evidence of an "Editing war."

I've asked this via "Help" four times this month and receiver "Excuse the delay in responding" auto-responses but no answer.

What is going on?

Dean Speir

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Posted 7 years ago

7 years ago

Emperor, Champion

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Can you be more specific and perhaps provide a screenshot?

I just had a go at editing some SoA episodes and couldn't get an error message, but I obviously didn't submit it, so the errors might occur there. Can you tell us where the error kicks in and is it on specific episodes.

7 years ago

Dean Speir

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It's NOT an "error message;" it says exactly what I posted originally.

Here's a link to a page typical of what I'm referencing: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3175944/s....

If you can edit that page, then it's on my end. But as I logged out and I still get the "This Synopsis topic is currently locked" banner, I don't believe it's me.

7 years ago

Emperor, Champion

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Nope I can't edit it.

As it says on the help page, there are reasons it'd be locked for temporary reasons and I'd assume one of those must apply (there might be no evidence of edit warring but those kinds of pages are a bit of a nightmare and should really be folded back into the main system for submissions as they get messy quickly). Also, no contributors don't have admin rights - it has to have been done by a member of staff.

Perhaps staff can look in here and explain what is happening, but in the meantime it might just be a matter of waiting until they are reopened - how long have you been trying?

7 years ago

Dean Speir

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I logged my first inquiry to IMDb "Help" on August 28... I've done that a total of four (4) separate times now, and after three days, each one has generated the following auto-response:

"Hi there,

This is just a note to let you know that although it's almost been
48 hours since you sent in your message, we haven't forgotten about you!

We strive to answer all questions within 48 hours, but due to the large number of questions we have right now we're afraid we may have to go over a bit this time. :(

Please hang in there and we'll be getting back to you as quickly as we possibly can!

Our apologies again, and we appreciate your understanding."

There has been no follow-up of any sort other than that.

So far I've documented this on current Sons of Anarchy, Covert Affairs, and The Bridge synopses pages as can be confirmed by visiting them.

So then the question becomes, "Why do certain IMDb Staff have proprietary rights to certain Synopses?"

2013-09-24T21:05:03+00:00

Dean Speir

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Oops! That should have been "Covert Affairs."

2013-09-25T00:05:02+00:00

Emperor, Champion

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So then the question becomes, "Why do certain IMDb Staff have proprietary rights to certain Synopses?"

Because it is IMDB's site and the T&Cs include something that says submitting data gives IMDB the right to do what they like with it (but with some fancier verbiaage).

2013-09-25T04:23:32+00:00

Dean Speir

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Yeah? That's not acceptable.

2013-09-25T04:51:47+00:00

Emperor, Champion

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Well if we didn't give IMDB the right to edit and display the data we add, then it couldn't operate. If you don't agree to the T&Cs then don't add data.

They also need tools to stop people abusing the system and degrading the data, which is why that plot synopsis had to be locked.

7 years ago

Dean Speir

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I understand my options in this matter, Emperor, #1, and, #2, I'm not sure why you responded with "which is why that plot synopsis had to be locked," because clearly you have no idea of what you're talking about.

In none of the three series I cited, Sons of Anarchy, Covert Affairs, and The Bridge, was there any system abuse or data degradation, and I defy you to point to a single instance.

I've seen Synopses locked because of "Editing Wars" before, and the names of the Contributors were still displayed. You may note if you actually review any of the ones I cited, no Contributors are listed at all, not even that of the Synopsis originator.

7 years ago

Emperor, Champion

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Nope, I don't know why they were locked, but neither do you.

My explanation, that there was something wrong with the entries (as per the help page), at least seems more reasonable than yours, that there are contributors with admin rights (not that I'm aware of) or that IMDB staff have been misuse their powers to gain "proprietary rights to certain Synopses" (like they've got the time).

It may also be: an error or part of a larger plan (it might be they are rolling the wiki sections into the main system, because of the ease they can be abused) or these are somehow official synopsis added by the production companies (I'm not aware the latter happens but they do often have interns who fill out data, so, if they could be bothered, they might task someone to add them in). Unfortunately, they are also guesses too. It all is until staff take a lock at it and tell us what the situation is. I know I'd like to find out what the answer is (as you can guarantee this question will arise again).

However, the bottom line is: it is IMDB's site and their data, so they can lock what they like.

4 years ago

kolnoaMograbi

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After submitting dozens of synopses, I'm suddenly locked from submitting. Simply nothing happens when I click on Synopsis. Tried to submit to Campfire / Medurat haShevet and Here Come the Bunnies. What's going on?

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