Using Wikipedia for content

maxeaus · 09-06-2008, 07:52 AM

G,day, i am currently working on a WhyPark site and i have added some Wikipedia articles/content. I have added a link to Wikipedia at the bottom of the article. Is this Ok to do this? I mean, copy Wikipedia articles onto your site. i read that it is OK on Wiki, but the legal mumbo jumbo about copyright and what is and is not acceptable just makes my head spin. I gather you are supposed to add a author tag, but i cannot even see one on the content i used.

I realy like wikipedia from a viewers perspective, i think it is great, but it has a certain type of intellectual style to how to use it apart from reading it, that i guess im not "smart" enough to realy understand. I would not dare try to update content on Wiki, as im sure some total Wiki Nazi would come after me for making a spelling mistake! Here is the page that i wrote and copied. 20% i wrote and 80% i took from Wiki.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/website-development/511305-using-wikipedia-for-content.html

http://www.portvilavanuatu.com/page.cfm/id/41700

Should i be taken outside and shot for this? Or is this perfectly acceptable? Or do i need to add on further things to keep Wiki happy?

nasaboy007 · 09-06-2008, 08:05 AM

I'm not a copyright expert, but in my opinion I feel that as long as you link back to them, it's ok to use their content (at least for wikipedia). it's a communally edited encyclopedia and therefore people forfeit their intellectual rights to their text (or so i believe, correct me if i'm wrong) and therefore it's up to wikipedia itself what to allow and what to not allow. however, i think they allow the usage of their content, but it's common courtesy that you link back to where you got the content from (cite your sources).

bartolomo · 09-07-2008, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by maxeaus

G,day, i am currently working on a WhyPark site and i have added some Wikipedia articles/content. I have added a link to Wikipedia at the bottom of the article. Is this Ok to do this? I mean, copy Wikipedia articles onto your site. i read that it is OK on Wiki, but the legal mumbo jumbo about copyright and what is and is not acceptable just makes my head spin. I gather you are supposed to add a author tag, but i cannot even see one on the content i used.

I realy like wikipedia from a viewers perspective, i think it is great, but it has a certain type of intellectual style to how to use it apart from reading it, that i guess im not "smart" enough to realy understand. I would not dare try to update content on Wiki, as im sure some total Wiki Nazi would come after me for making a spelling mistake! Here is the page that i wrote and copied. 20% i wrote and 80% i took from Wiki.

http://www.portvilavanuatu.com/page.cfm/id/41700

Should i be taken outside and shot for this? Or is this perfectly acceptable? Or do i need to add on further things to keep Wiki happy?

I sure would like to see further discussion on this. I, too, have tried to work my way through the "wiki legal mumbo jumbo" and, like maxeus, it makes my head hurt. I see wiki articles used on many sites and I really think it's ok, but I've been reluctant to do it.

maxeaus · 09-07-2008, 12:42 PM

G'day, first off , thanks for the first response, much appreciated. Second, it's great to hear im not alone in trying to work my way through the cluttered Wiki help pages.

I thought i was the only one spinning out! I have since contacted a Wiki editor, who seems very knoledgable on all things Wiki, it ONLY took me several hours to work out how to do it, LOL. Anyway, i have been given the green light it seems, and infact i have such new found confidence, that i wrote my own Wiki article, and linked it to my site.

The issue now is, can i have a link on Wiki, to MY site? Im currently in discussion with the editor over this concept. My head is still spinning though!

bartolomo · 09-07-2008, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by maxeaus

G'day, first off , thanks for the first response, much appreciated. Second, it's great to hear im not alone in trying to work my way through the cluttered Wiki help pages.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=511305

I thought i was the only one spinning out! I have since contacted a Wiki editor, who seems very knoledgable on all things Wiki, it ONLY took me several hours to work out how to do it, LOL. Anyway, i have been given the green light it seems, and infact i have such new found confidence, that i wrote my own Wiki article, and linked it to my site.

The issue now is, can i have a link on Wiki, to MY site? Im currently in discussion with the editor over this concept. My head is still spinning though!

maxeaus,
so, from the sounds of it, it's not just copy and paste from wiki!!? i'd really appreciate an update when you sort it all out. Thanks.

d0main · 09-07-2008, 04:13 PM

You can link back from wiki to your own site if it's the authority on the matter. You can get a lot of visitors if its a popular article, but remember that wiki has no-follow backlinks.

maxeaus · 09-08-2008, 04:31 AM

Bartolomo, that is what it is , if you want, cut and paste. I personally think it is better to mix it up a bit, add some of your own content also, maybe 80% wiki, 20% yourself at least.

You must have a copyright disclaimer on your page also, which states anyone may copy the content. In other words, you can not copyright as your own, articles you got off Wiki.

And if you have authoritive content on your site, you may add it to Wiki, and link from them. But, as stated Wiki has no-follow tags, to prevent passing page rank, which is fair enough and expected, other wise everyone would be trying to gain page rank off the back of Wiki.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=511305

The conclusion i have come to is that Wiki is a great free resource, and if you can add to it, or take something usefull from it, then you have added value to your own website in one way or another.

This dose not change my view that Wiki could be made a little more user friendly, but i guess that is how it has (as a free resource) evolved, and so be it.

Video19 · 09-15-2008, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by nasaboy007

I'm not a copyright expert, but in my opinion I feel that as long as you link back to them, it's ok to use their content (at least for wikipedia). it's a communally edited encyclopedia and therefore people forfeit their intellectual rights to their text (or so i believe, correct me if i'm wrong) and therefore it's up to wikipedia itself what to allow and what to not allow. however, i think they allow the usage of their content, but it's common courtesy that you link back to where you got the content from (cite your sources).

Oh..
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=511305
It's very useful for me

Thanks.

useless · 09-23-2008, 01:40 PM

i think feel free to use the content as if its ur own ...coz many wiki articles are them selves copied from other site with backinks at the bottom of the page as referennces ....so i feel we could do the same to wiki

Mesa SEO Solutions · 09-27-2008, 11:17 PM

I just attended a seminar and this was mentioned. The speaker said anything more than 2 lines of content creates problems. You will also find that you will run into problems with the SE's over duplicate content.

09-06-2008, 07:52 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
maxeaus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,800	Using Wikipedia for content G,day, i am currently working on a WhyPark site and i have added some Wikipedia articles/content. I have added a link to Wikipedia at the bottom of the article. Is this Ok to do this? I mean, copy Wikipedia articles onto your site. i read that it is OK on Wiki, but the legal mumbo jumbo about copyright and what is and is not acceptable just makes my head spin. I gather you are supposed to add a author tag, but i cannot even see one on the content i used. I realy like wikipedia from a viewers perspective, i think it is great, but it has a certain type of intellectual style to how to use it apart from reading it, that i guess im not "smart" enough to realy understand. I would not dare try to update content on Wiki, as im sure some total Wiki Nazi would come after me for making a spelling mistake! Here is the page that i wrote and copied. 20% i wrote and 80% i took from Wiki. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/website-development/511305-using-wikipedia-for-content.html http://www.portvilavanuatu.com/page.cfm/id/41700 Should i be taken outside and shot for this? Or is this perfectly acceptable? Or do i need to add on further things to keep Wiki happy?

09-06-2008, 08:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
nasaboy007 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,219	I'm not a copyright expert, but in my opinion I feel that as long as you link back to them, it's ok to use their content (at least for wikipedia). it's a communally edited encyclopedia and therefore people forfeit their intellectual rights to their text (or so i believe, correct me if i'm wrong) and therefore it's up to wikipedia itself what to allow and what to not allow. however, i think they allow the usage of their content, but it's common courtesy that you link back to where you got the content from (cite your sources). __________________ Hacksar.com - Your source for random computer tips and tricks! MySiteMemberships.com - Keep track of your site registration information! Like my post? Rep is appreciated!

09-27-2008, 11:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mesa SEO Solutions NamePros Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: arizona Posts: 137	I just attended a seminar and this was mentioned. The speaker said anything more than 2 lines of content creates problems. You will also find that you will run into problems with the SE's over duplicate content. __________________ Google Places Local SEO Services Tucson Phoenix Scottsdale SEO Google Places Citations Tucson Phoenix Glendale Scottsdale Flagstaff Yuma Google Places Citations Tempe Mesa Chandler

09-07-2008, 12:42 PM	THREAD STARTER #4 (permalink)
maxeaus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,800	G'day, first off , thanks for the first response, much appreciated. Second, it's great to hear im not alone in trying to work my way through the cluttered Wiki help pages. I thought i was the only one spinning out! I have since contacted a Wiki editor, who seems very knoledgable on all things Wiki, it ONLY took me several hours to work out how to do it, LOL. Anyway, i have been given the green light it seems, and infact i have such new found confidence, that i wrote my own Wiki article, and linked it to my site. The issue now is, can i have a link on Wiki, to MY site? Im currently in discussion with the editor over this concept. My head is still spinning though!

09-07-2008, 04:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
d0main NamePros Regular Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 468	You can link back from wiki to your own site if it's the authority on the matter. You can get a lot of visitors if its a popular article, but remember that wiki has no-follow backlinks.

09-08-2008, 04:31 AM	THREAD STARTER #7 (permalink)
maxeaus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 1,800	Bartolomo, that is what it is , if you want, cut and paste. I personally think it is better to mix it up a bit, add some of your own content also, maybe 80% wiki, 20% yourself at least. You must have a copyright disclaimer on your page also, which states anyone may copy the content. In other words, you can not copyright as your own, articles you got off Wiki. And if you have authoritive content on your site, you may add it to Wiki, and link from them. But, as stated Wiki has no-follow tags, to prevent passing page rank, which is fair enough and expected, other wise everyone would be trying to gain page rank off the back of Wiki. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=511305 The conclusion i have come to is that Wiki is a great free resource, and if you can add to it, or take something usefull from it, then you have added value to your own website in one way or another. This dose not change my view that Wiki could be made a little more user friendly, but i guess that is how it has (as a free resource) evolved, and so be it.

09-23-2008, 01:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
useless NamePros Regular Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: India Posts: 360	i think feel free to use the content as if its ur own ...coz many wiki articles are them selves copied from other site with backinks at the bottom of the page as referennces ....so i feel we could do the same to wiki

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