Quoting tsm431:

Quote:
Should review copies of DVDs be entered into the master database?

I occasionally come across review copies of movies that are put out by the studios for voters to view prior to voting for various awards (I recently found a copy of "The Pentagon Papers: For Your Emmy Consideration" issued by the FX Network). I assume that these come out before any commercial releases of the DVD. This one has no features beyond and opening menu to start the movie and the movie itself (not even chapter stops). The packaging and the printing on the media indicate that it is a "Special Review Copy Only" and that it is not to be duplicated, transferred, rented, sold or posted on any website.

No, I do not believe so.

From the rules:

"The main database should contain information about legal, professionally produced discs. Do not contribute "bootleg", other illegal DVDs, or privately created DVDs even though the content may be film or TV.

When creating a new profile for contribution, the preferred method is to create from the UPC number. The UPC (called EAN in some countries) is the number under the barcode on the DVD’s case. DVD Profiler uses the entire UPC/EAN, including the check digit, as highlighted below:"

IMO the rules should include that the discs also are made to be sold/distributed. 

There may or may not be a clarification about it somewhere, but I've never seen any in the database.

Quoting tsm431:

Quote:
Should review copies of DVDs be entered into the master database?

Another vote for "No".

From the Rules:

Quote:
"DVD Video, HD-DVD Video, and Blu-ray Video" discs (including MiniDVD): These discs contain movies, television shows, music performances and other professionally-produced and sold DVDs.

(emphasis by me)

Also the practical side: How much people own this screener? Is there any probability that another owner uses DVD Proifler?

Better to say Screener; in my time as DVD reviewer I got many hundreds of DVDs for review that were 100% identical to what was in stores.

But award screeners and that kind of stuff probably shouldn't be.

Not necessarily: UPC- vs. disc ID-based profile, different covers, different release date etc. etc.

Quoting Grendell:

Quote:
As long as they are official, they should be allowed. If you don't have them, then it doesn't affect you, and the only reason you would actively be against it is likely just due to jealousy or other illogical personal reasons.

should have stopped at "allowed" the rest of the post is just idiotic.

Quoting TheMadMartian:

Quote:
For the record, I am neither for or against them but Mithi already provided the answer from the rules.  In order to be contributed, it must be a "professionally-produced and sold" disc.  Since selling these discs is specifically prohibited, per the rules, they can't be contributed.

I also have no personal dog in this fight. But when the rules were thought of, do you think anyone on the rules committee had any idea that they existed?
professionally-produced and sold" disc seems to be their way of saying no homemade burned discs or bootlegs.

Screeners/review discs are usually supposed to be returned or destroyed 4 weeks or so after you've received them, so there shouldn't be any to contribute.