The database guidelines say that a release can be marked as 'unofficial' if it was "made in compliance with local copyright laws [but was] not otherwise approved by rights holder(s)". That would seem to characterize this kind of release perfectly.
That said, I know that 'unofficial' is often assumed to mean 'illegal', and such releases often get banned from sale on Discogs. I'm not sure this one needs to be (though I do not really know how legal it is to sell it in the US, say). However, I do think that s of the database should somehow be warned about this kind of release: Their provenance is dubious at best; they are presumably made from CDs, or hi-rez digital files ed from Qobuz, or whatever.
I don't know if they're "knock-off" so much as they're grey market releases where certain copyrights have expired or have different laws in different areas of the world.
Silvermo
Partially Unofficial is for when some tracks are licenced and som are not.
From the format list:
Partially Unofficial P/Unofficial To indicate that only some tracks on the release are unofficial. Use the notes to give further explanation
So that tag would ve incorrect here.
When is the last time that's been updated? Seems logical to use Partially Unofficial if it's not completely legal but not completely illegal in any form.
Also, it doesn't say to not use it for other cases where it makes sense (mainly why I asked about the last time it's been updated).
disneyfacts
When is the last time that's been updated?
No idea. Probly when it was first written.
disneyfacts
Also, it doesn't say to not use it for other cases
The credit list lists when to use credits, not when to not use them. All credit explinations would be super long if they where to list when not to use them.
So as long as the explination of p/unofficial is what it is. Then thats how it should be used. Even if you think it can be used i better ways.
If it needs to be changed you can lobby for that in a separate tread.
Silvermo
The credit list lists when to use credits, not when to not use them. All credit explinations would be super long if they where to list when not to use them.
Well, I mean it could say "use only for this" and it wouldn't make the description much longer.
Anyway, beyond that I'm not really familiar with unofficial stuff.
As was said above, the releases clearly state that the Unofficial tag can be used for "Releases made in compliance with local copyright laws that are not otherwise approved by rights holder(s)". I would think that using "Partially unofficial" to describe this case, where it is 'in a way' official (made in compliance with local copyright laws) and in a way not (not otherwise approved by rights holders) makes perfect sense. To interpret "partially" to mean "some tracks and not others" is too narrow.
rikiheck
To interpret "partially" to mean "some tracks and not others" is too narrow.
That is how Discogs defines it. If you think it’s wrong try to get a forum consensus to make Discogs change it.
rikiheck
the Unofficial tag can be used for "Releases made in compliance with local copyright laws that are not otherwise approved by rights holder(s)".
So then use that if that fits.
No beed to make up your own definitions of the tags.
Where does Discogs define it that way? (I mean the question seriously. I have searched the guidelines and do not see any definition of "Partially unofficial".)
