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From Nick Carr:

I'm still trying to find a common keyword that doesn't have Wikipedia in the top 10 results.

gunpowder: #1
arthropod: #2
Mona Lisa: #1
sex: #4
web 2.0: #4
lawn mower: #3
trans fat: #1
Holy Roman Empire: #1
rap: #8
poverty: #5
ufo: #7
sauerkraut: #1
law: #7
tweezer: #5
Alfred Hitchcock: #3
Shakespeare: #7
Iraq War: #4
stock option: #3
Nicholas Carr: #3
brothel: #2

JVD QUESTION: The study that I would like to see is, how much of the material on Wikipedia is original and how much has been lifted from other sources (including sources in the public domain)? That is, is Wikipedia basically an aggregator? Based on casual observation, including Wikipedia entries that say specifically that they have used material from public domain versions of the Encyclopedia Britannica, I suspect that much of it is derivative. But I don't know.

posted by James DeLong @ 8:49 AM | Access: Commons, Fair Use, Orphan Works, Public Domain

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On an anecdotal level, I noted recently the discovery of an entire passage on WIPO in Wikipedia lifted directly from the WIPO site. (If you're going to steal, at least steal from the source.)

(http://weblog.ipcentral.info/archives/2006/06/plagiarism_and.html )

Posted by: Patrick at August 14, 2006 9:17 AM

Well, do you have a point to make about the search results....?

You start by listing some search results, you fail to even mention what search engine was used.

In any case, considering the vindictive organizations that property-rights holders have created (e.g, RIAA, MPAA, BSA) should you be surprised that those who support the existence of a free area of IP should ally themselves, if that is your belief?

I strongly doubt this is the case, I think it is just the result of wikipedia having reached a critical mass where it is the 'go-to' source.

Just because some creates something that free, it does not mean that they are not in favor of your right to your own IP. The goal is just to change the market and to de-monetize that IP, thorough the normal action of free markets. In doing so, the pernicious power of large corporations will be lessened.


Posted by: enigma_foundry at August 14, 2006 1:54 PM








 
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