Quoting the rules:

Quote:
If you are using a non-standard description, take it from the DVD box, and ensure it will help distinguish between different releases of the same title.

AND

Quoting Ken Cole:

Quote:
Edition helps distinguish between different releases, but it does not bear the full responsibility of that differentiation.  Per the rule, use the built-in editions when applicable, but tread lightly when stepping out of those choices.  When considering non-standard edition text, make sure it both:

- Help to differentiate versions - AND-
- Is prominently displayed on the front cover.

Any other interpretation of this rule starts us down the path to things like "Avatar: The Slightly Taller Version with the Blue Sticker"

I guess this boils down to "No"

Even though only the "Non-Standard" Editions are explicitly addressed here. I'd like to see the "Standard" Edition at least somewhere on the box for it to be entered.

Quoting iPatsa:

Quote:
"It's usually safe to use one of the built-in selections if appropriate"

Judgement call. If you think it is appropriate and helps differentiate between versions, go ahead and use it.

This ^.  Only non-standard editions need come from the case.

From previous discussions, I imagine stickers are a no as well? Picked up the newer movie-only The Wizard of Oz Blu-ray earlier. There's a factory sticker on the slipcover which reads "75th Anniversary Edition". Otherwise, nothing to really distinguish it from the other editions in the DB.

Quoting TheMadMartian:

Quote:
Quoting Lewis_Prothero:

Quote:
So, do I get this right?
If there are two releases out with different EAN/UPC, both identical except for the package, one HD-Slim and one SteelBook, it's OK then if I contribute "Special Edition" for which one ever I choose to fit better (Preferably not the release I own since I KNOW that this one isn't a Special Edition)?

Editions don't have to be mentioned ANYWHWERE?
OK, I guess this happens if someone thinks of things to be self-evident.

I don't believe that is what I said.  What I said was, it doesn't have to be on the case.  If there is a sticker, on the plastic wrap, that reads 'Special Edition', I have no problem using that as the rules allow it.

In fact you didn't say anything but "THIS^" pointing at a post saying that all that is required are two things:
1) Subjective feeling of being appropriate
2) Differentiation between different versions

I couldn't find any mentioning of a "sticker" anywhere. Instead you clarified that "Only non-standard editions need come from the case". Still no mentioning of "Standard Editions" actually having to be mentioned anywhere.

So what is it now?
Do we stick with iPatsa's interpretation or not?
If we do, it is not required that a Standard Edition is mentioned anywhere, that is what he pointed out.

Quoting Lewis_Prothero:

Quote:
In fact you didn't say anything but "THIS^" pointing at a post saying that all that is required are two things:
1) Subjective feeling of being appropriate
2) Differentiation between different versions

If anything else is required, by the rules, please feel free to quote that rule.  If you can't, I fail to see your point here.

Quote:
I couldn't find any mentioning of a "sticker" anywhere. Instead you clarified that "Only non-standard editions need come from the case". Still no mentioning of "Standard Editions" actually having to be mentioned anywhere.

That's because, in my first post, I was simply pointing out that the rule only specifies where to get non-standard editions.  My second post was an example of where, other than the case, I would get the standard edition.

Quote:
So what is it now?
Do we stick with iPatsa's interpretation or not?
If we do, it is not required that a Standard Edition is mentioned anywhere, that is what he pointed out.

You can stick with whichever interpretation you like but it won't change the fact that the rules only require non-standard editions to come from the box.  If both had to come from the box, the rule would not specify one and not the other, it would simply say "Take the edition from the DVD box."

Quoting TheMadMartian:

Quote:
Quoting Lewis_Prothero:

Quote:
In fact you didn't say anything but "THIS^" pointing at a post saying that all that is required are two things:
1) Subjective feeling of being appropriate
2) Differentiation between different versions

If anything else is required, by the rules, please feel free to quote that rule.  If you can't, I fail to see your point here.

So your answer to my question above:
"If there are two releases out with different EAN/UPC, both identical except for the package, one HD-Slim and one SteelBook, it's OK then if I contribute "Special Edition" for which one ever I choose to fit better (Preferably not the release I own since I KNOW that this one isn't a Special Edition)?

Editions don't have to be mentioned ANYWHWERE?"

would have to be "Yes" then?

Oh, and that "It's usually safe to use one of the built-in selections if appropriate" isn't by any chance based on the fact that those Standard Editions are usually to be found in big bold letters on the front of the cover, and not meant as an excuse to invent non-existing editions?

EDIT:
And just for the fun of it:
Since the rules don't explicitly mention that the different releases actually have to be in the same locality, is it safe to assume that I am supposed to enter one of the Standard Editions to a German release if a US release is already in the database?

Quoting Lewis_Prothero:

Quote:


EDIT:
And just for the fun of it:
Since the rules don't explicitly mention that the different releases actually have to be in the same locality, is it safe to assume that I am supposed to enter one of the Standard Editions to a German release if a US release is already in the database?

If what you are asking is if the US version has an edition is it safe to make the German release the same edition?

Personally I don't think that is a safe assumption.  An edition on a different locality would solely depend on the cover of the release of the release in that locality.

Ken has stated that individual rulings on these types of issues are a waste of time. Consistency is the key and is what the community should be striving for.

Quoting Ken Cole:

Quote:
One-off rulings on individual titles are a waste of time - there is always a new twist available to cast a slightly different shade of gray, and users cannot be expected to scour the forums on a title-by-title basis.  Similarly, refining and complicating the rules to satisfactorily contain each of these new variants is an exercise in futility.

Local databases can support an  infinite variety of variants for title and other fields, and the local locks are available to make those changes permanent.  With this in mind, hopefully the supporters on both sides of this and other similar debates can agree that the direction of a decision here is less important that the fact of a decision.  Consistency for submission to the online is possible and what we should shoot for.  Agreement on how it "should be" is neither possible nor (thankfully) necessary.

We'll be implementing a global edit for contribution evaluator use.  This will allow us to make a decision on a particular range of titles and standardize them directly.  In this particular case, the titles will be Men in Black, Men in Black II and Men in Black III.  Details on the forthcoming implementation will be posted before we begin making any profile changes.

Whenever I submit a contribution that has been a topic of debate, I highlight that in my documentation to alert the voters and screeners to that fact.