Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard

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Welcome to Conflict of interest Noticeboard (COIN)
Sections older than 14 days archived by Lowercase sigmabot III. (For help, see Wikipedia:Purge) This Conflict of interest/Noticeboard (COIN) page is for determining whether a specific editor has a conflict of interest (COI) for a specific article and whether an edit by a COIN-declared COI editor meets a requirement of the Conflict of Interest guideline. A conflict of interest may occur when an editor has a close personal or business connection with article topics. Post here if you are concerned that an editor has a COI, and is using Wikipedia to promote their own interests at the expense of neutrality. For content disputes, try proposing changes at the article talk page first and otherwise follow the Wikipedia:Dispute resolution procedural policy.
You must notify any editor who is the subject of a discussion. You may use {{subst:coin-notice}} ~~~~ to do so.
Additional notes: This page should only be used when ordinary talk page discussion has been attempted and failed to resolve the issue, such as when an editor has repeatedly added problematic material over an extended period. Do not post personal information about other editors here without their permission. Non-public evidence of a conflict of interest can be emailed to paid-en-wpwikipedia.org for review by a functionary. If in doubt, you can contact an individual functionary or the Arbitration Committee privately for advice. The COI guideline does not absolutely prohibit people with a connection to a subject from editing articles on that subject. Editors who have such a connection can still comply with the COI guideline by discussing proposed article changes first, or by making uncontroversial edits. COI allegations should not be used as a "trump card" in disputes over article content. However, paid editing without disclosure is prohibited. Consider using the template series {{Uw-paid1}} through {{Uw-paid4}}. Your report or advice request regarding COI incidents should include diff links and focus on one or more items in the COI guideline. In response, COIN may determine whether a specific editor has a COI for a specific article. There are three possible outcomes to your COIN request: 1. COIN consensus determines that an editor has a COI for a specific article. In response, the relevant article talk pages may be tagged with {{Connected contributor}}, the article page may be tagged with {{COI}}, and/or the user may be warned via {{subst:uw-coi|Article}}. 2. COIN consensus determines that an editor does not have a COI for a specific article. In response, editors should refrain from further accusing that editor of having a conflict of interest. Feel free to repost at COIN if additional COI evidence comes to light that was not previously addressed. 3. There is no COIN consensus. Here, Lowercase sigmabot III will automatically archive the thread when it is older than 14 days. Once COIN declares that an editor has a COI for a specific article, COIN (or a variety of other noticeboards) may be used to determine whether an edit by a COIN-declared COI editor meets a requirement of the Wikipedia:Conflict of interest guideline.
To begin a new discussion, enter the name of the relevant article below:

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Category:Wikipedia conflict of interest edit requests is where COI editors have placed the {{Request edit}} template: Wikipedia conflict of interest edit requests Talk:AAFMAA Talk:AARP Talk:Abbott Informatics Talk:Katy Abbott Talk:Academy of Achievement Talk:Advantest Talk:Adversarial machine learning Talk:AGCO Talk:Aisle (company) Talk:Allomet Corporation Talk:Amgen Talk:Paul Andrew (designer) Talk:Antin Infrastructure Partners Talk:Arizona State University Talk:Jeff Arnold (internet entrepreneur) Talk:Atomico Talk:Avaloq Talk:Raven Baxter Talk:BeiGene Talk:Bendix Corporation Talk:Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute Talk:Edi Birsan Talk:Black Box Corporation Talk:BlackRock Talk:Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Talk:Axel T. Brunger Talk:Shane Bugbee Talk:Canadian Security Intelligence Service Talk:Caterpillar Inc. Talk:Cerence Talk:Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Talk:Richard Chandler (businessman) Talk:Citadel Securities Talk:Clayton County Public Schools Talk:Clements Worldwide Talk:CME Group Talk:The Coca-Cola Company Talk:COFRA Group Talk:Comparethemarket.com Talk:Comparison of TLS implementations Talk:Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants Talk:Jamie Costa Talk:Douglas Cumming Talk:Daily Kos Talk:Daily Maverick Talk:Dante (networking) Talk:Louis DeJoy Talk:Joseph DeRisi Talk:Detyrosination Talk:Laurel DeWitt Talk:Vishva Dixit Talk:Elevance Health Talk:E. Wesley Ely Talk:Ephemeral (company) Talk:Esri Talk:European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes Talk:Families USA Talk:Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra Talk:Fortinet Talk:FuboTV Talk:The Globe and Mail Talk:Sarah E. Goode Talk:John Grayken Talk:Grinnell College Talk:Daphne Guinness Talk:GunBroker.com Talk:Boze Hadleigh Talk:Holly Ham Talk:Hitachi Data Systems Talk:Infillion Talk:Issue One Talk:Hamilton E. James Talk:Jewcy Talk:Jones Day Talk:Dave Kaplan (music executive) Talk:Jonathan Karp Talk:Jim Kavanaugh Talk:Chris Kempczinski Talk:Kessler Foundation Talk:Körber Talk:Late Nite Catechism Talk:LNP (newspaper) Talk:LNP Media Group Talk:Bernard Looney Talk:Tom Malinowski Talk:Rob Mathes Talk:Miller-Motte College Talk:Monarch Alternative Capital Talk:New Zealand Walking Access Commission Talk:Craig Newmark Talk:Nuro Talk:NuScale Power Talk:Kennedy Obohwemu Talk:Olo (online ordering) Talk:Noah Oppenheim Talk:OSA Fellow Talk:Lee Oser Talk:PatrickMavros Talk:Christina Patterson Talk:Performance art Talk:Adam Pritzker Talk:Project Vesta Talk:Pure Storage Talk:George Pyne (business executive) Talk:Raspberry Pi Foundation Talk:Red Robin Talk:Mark Reed (sculptor) Talk:Rob Reiner Talk:Richemont Talk:Riot Games Talk:Joni L. Rutter Talk:Sacred Heart University Talk:Schuler Group Talk:Martin Scicluna (businessman) Talk:Science (journal) Talk:Science Signaling Talk:Sermo Talk:Tiffany Shlain Talk:Ernest Singer Talk:Smith & Thell Talk:Society for the Study of Social Problems Talk:St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Talk:Strada Education Network Talk:StubHub Talk:Justin Sun Talk:TechnipFMC Talk:Testex Talk:Tetragon Financial Group Talk:The Humane League Talk:The Polymath Talk:TIBCO Software Talk:UNESCO Talk:UnitedHealth Group Talk:Bulat Utemuratov Talk:Venturi (company) Talk:Verizon Communications Talk:Viagogo Talk:Vista Equity Partners Talk:Alice Walton Talk:Tony Wasserman Talk:Martha G. Welch Talk:What Do You Meme? Talk:Whataburger Talk:Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr Talk:William Winkenwerder Jr. Talk:Winmark Talk:WLIW (TV) Talk:Women in STEM fields Talk:Xperi Talk:ZincFive Talk:Zultys

Steven Harris Ramdev

• Steven Harris Ramdev (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Indiantalentnews123 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

SPA editor, who's only work is on this article. There are some of the usual signs of UPE that NPP patrolers look for. When the COI template was placed on their talk page, rather than responding, they simply deleted it. Another indication of UPE. Onel5969 ^{TT me} 18:21, 30 March 2023 (UTC)

@Onel5969 The deletion was by mistake. For your kind information, the article has been approved under the articles of creation and graded as c class. It has passed all the requirements of notability guidelines and has enough press to substantiate the article. The changes addressed by the user has been take into consideration. The grammar for the same is rectified and written from a neutral point of view. Kindly remove the COI template, if you are satisfied with the changes. Once again, the articles meets all the standars with respect to Wikipedia's notability guidelines. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 04:52, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

That in no way addresses the issues raised in the post you deleted. Do you have any external relationship (personal or professional) with Steven Harris Ramdev, and have you received any form of payment for your edits to the biography in question? AndyTheGrump (talk) 05:09, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

@AndyTheGrump No. I don't have any kind of external relationship (personal or professional) with the entity. I am writing articles that covers Indian talents in specific. I am new to wikipedia as an editor, and I am still learning a lot of things in Wikipedia. Also, I have not received any form of payment for the edits to the biography. It was only through research, and news articles, publications and magazine. I hope, your question has been addressed. Thanks. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 05:39, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

You have no connection to this individual, and yet your entire editing history concerns him? Why the emphasis on one person? Are the no other 'Indian talents' you could be working on at the same time? AndyTheGrump (talk) 05:53, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

@AndyTheGrump Yes, this is my first article. So I am making sure I have all the information about the entity added. i am trying to refer to as many news sources as possible. On a parallel note, I am also researching on other individuals and I will be creating articles for them as well, very soon. Since I am new to this wikipedia editing, I am still learning. Please understand my thoughts and give me some time for my research. I will surely be creating articles for other individuals in a few days. I am not emphasizing on a particular person, I am making sure I have covered everything about the entity that's required. In a way, it would be easier for me to create articles for other individuals, considering the experience gained from editing and creating this one. I hope you understand. Thank you. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 06:14, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

Indiantalentnews123 - How did you obtain the photograph you used in the article?Onel5969 ^{TT me} 08:44, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

@Onel5969 I obtained this photograph from the person who clicked it. It was shared by the photographer through mail. I have given the credits for the same. The image is used with the permission of the photographer. Thank you. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 09:49, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

So you do have a connection with the subject, you are in communication with their photographer. This would be an improper way of uploading an image- the photographer should be the one to do it. 331dot (talk) 09:54, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

I don't have a connection with the subject. I communicated the photographer through research. The entity had shared information on their social media regarding the same. I got this information, communicated the photographer and updated the image on wikipedia. This is in consent with the photographer. Also, the photographer doesn't know the technicalities of uploading an image on wikipedia. I have added the same on the photographer's behalf and consent. Thank you. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 10:04, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

How do we know that you have the photographer's consent? Did you post it somewhere? The photographer is free to learn the process just as anyone else is. The vast majority of the time the photographer must be the one to upload an image if they want to release it for use under Wikipedia's license(which allows for reuse for any purpose with attribution). So the photgrapher took the image without this person's knowledge? 331dot (talk) 10:09, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

In addition, what is your relationship to the photographer?Onel5969 ^{TT me} 13:49, 31 March 2023 (UTC)

No personal relationship with the photographer. We engaged in conversation on a professional note. The photographer has received consent from the entity and in turn, the photographer has given his consent for uploading it on Wikimedia. As per your guidelines, I will instruct the photographer to upload the same from his end, if possible. Thank you. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 15:15, 1 April 2023 (UTC)

@Indiantalentnews123, which three of those 35 sources are the ones you're using to support a claim of notability? Because it looks like a lot of them are from affiliated sources such as WorldSkills. Valereee (talk) 15:36, 1 April 2023 (UTC)

https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1749281

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengaluru-student-sends-paintings-letter-to-pm-modi-receives-praise-2519732

https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/karnataka-artist-expresses-gratitude-after-receiving-praise-from-pm-modi20210827135415/

https://www.news18.com/news/education-career/bengaluru-student-sends-paintings-to-prime-minister-modi-receives-praise-from-pmo-4132652.html Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 16:17, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Press releases are NOT reliable independent sources. Theroadislong (talk) 16:21, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengaluru-student-sends-paintings-letter-to-pm-modi-receives-praise-2519732

https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/heartwarming-bengalurean-artist-wows-pm-modi-1023844.html

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-praises-bengaluru-student-for-his-paintings-views-on-public-health-101630032504889.html

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/498992/city-students-give-colour-their.html Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 16:24, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Please do help me with editing the grammar for the page. I feel it would help me in creating new articles too. I need to write that in a specific tone. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 16:27, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Multiple citations to exactly the same minor story do nothing to indicate any enduring notability. A young artist sent Modi a few paintings. He received a letter of praise in return. You can't construct notability around a letter of praise. That isn't in-depth coverage of the individual as an artist (per WP:ARTIST), and certainly doesn't demonstrate the level of coverage required to meet WP:NBASIC requirements. AndyTheGrump (talk) 16:34, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

It is a major story and the news coverage is completely about the entity. So you must read the news coverage carefully and do your research. Please stop pointing out minor or silly things that are baseless. And please don't Target a specific article for your own deeds. Thanks. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 16:53, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Indiantalentnews123 Is there a particular reason you refer to the subject of this article as "the entity"? 331dot (talk) 16:43, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

I have sent it to WP:AFD, Indiantalentnews123 is now edit warring to include copyright violation photograph as well. Theroadislong (talk) 16:53, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Listen, I don't know about the usage of Wikimedia commons as much as Wikipedia articles. I though the image was getting removed purposefully without any reason. That's why I had to add it back. You can explain your reason for the issue here. thanks. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 16:55, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Neither Wikipedia nor Commons will host copyright-violating content. AndyTheGrump (talk)

yes, the news publication are completely about the entity. It has been rated c clas under articles of creation which proves enough notability. Please stop unnecessarily targeting a specific page. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 16:56, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Wikipedia class ratings are the opinion of an individual contributor, and they do not demonstrate notability. And since the article has been nominated for deletion, for reasons already amply explained, there is no point in discussing the issue further here. The decision will be made at AfD according to normal Wikipedia policy, in accord with Wikipedia criteria. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:06, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

this is totally wrong Mr.andy. you can't end the case without the consent of the editor and also on sufficient evidence backing your claims. I feel that a group of people are targeting this specific page for various reasons and I would like to appeal. Sending this article for deletion is completely wrong. Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 17:15, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

This is not a court of law. There is no 'case'. If you wish to comment at the AfD discussion, you are free to do so, but I strongly advise you to read up on relevant policy first. And cut out the crap about 'targeting', since it is clearly baseless, and continuing to make such unfounded allegations is liable to result in you being blocked from editing. AndyTheGrump (talk) 17:19, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Indiantalentnews123 No, the initiator of a discussion does not get to keep it open indefinitely. I have blocked you from the article involved itself, though you may comment in the deletion discussion. 331dot (talk) 17:22, 7 April 2023 (UTC)

Five days later, the creator of the article tried to fake a keep result multiple times (1, 2, 3). Pinging 331dot because you pblocked them earlier. LilianaUwU ^{(talk / contributions)} 06:07, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

I got a notification stating that I am free to remove the template by adding this below code. That's why I removed and added. It was displayed above the template.

Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 06:11, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

You're greatly misunderstanding. LilianaUwU ^{(talk / contributions)} 06:13, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

Okay then please add back the templates. Thanks. I have been so depressed by answering to all your conversations. It's affecting my mental state as well personally. I kindly request you to end this conversation by removing the templates. Thanks Indiantalentnews123 (talk) 06:15, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

That's not how the AfD process works. Also, why are you replying to me with the same exact thing as on your talk page? LilianaUwU ^{(talk / contributions)} 06:30, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

Shahrzad Rafati

• Shahrzad Rafati (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• BroadbandTV Corp (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Reignfall (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

There is currently a dispute between popular Youtuber h3h3productions and mentioned person above and company they are CEO of (BroadbandTV Corp). User Reignfalls is actively editing both pages but contributions by users date back several years to only those pages. Reignfalls is possibly the person mentioned above or involved with the company. Fuser55 (talk) 15:52, 8 April 2023 (UTC)

@Fuser55:, It appears they properly removed a section that was added by an WP:SPA. Same thing here. Can you show evidence of the COI? Maybe I am missing something here. --CNMall41 (talk) 21:58, 8 April 2023 (UTC)

Courtesy ping for Fuser55. CNM41, adding missed/broken pings after a comment has been published is harder than it should be. See H:PINGFIX for ways that work. Firefangledfeathers (talk / contribs) 03:24, 10 April 2023 (UTC)

Thanks for that. Didn't know but do now. --CNMall41 (talk) 07:15, 10 April 2023 (UTC)

Mark Lane (broadcaster)

• Mark Lane (broadcaster) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• MarkLane11 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Self-evident matter here, the user in question has the same name as the person who is the subject of the article. This user has only ever edited this one particular Wikipedia article. Musashi1600 (talk) 10:48, 9 April 2023 (UTC)

User has been blocked for WP:IMPERSONATE. The article might need to be cleaned up after their changes. --Drm310 🍁 (talk) 21:30, 9 April 2023 (UTC)

Martin Harrington

• Martin Harrington (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Harrington11963 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Halomani1 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Halomanike (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

This editor(s) created the article (diff) and claimed to be Martin Harrington (diff, diff). There are also a few IP addresses that have exclusively edited this page and related pages. These accounts repeatedly delete info beginning at least in 2012 and as recently as 2021. I've restored some of the content, so they will presumably attempt to delete it again. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 21:44, 12 April 2023 (UTC)

Virtual mailbox

• Virtual mailbox (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• David Lee Seidman (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Someone named David Seidman is employed by Exela Technologies as a Content Marketing Specialist. David Lee Seidman (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) added an Exela Technologies product to your entry called "Virtual mailbox". Chances last a finite time (talk) 13:25, 13 April 2023 (UTC)

• Comment this is a single edit SPA whose only edit was over a year ago. I suspect that your (appropriate) deletion of the spam link may be all that is needed.  Velella  ^{Velella Talk}   16:02, 13 April 2023 (UTC)

Suresh P. Sethi

• Suresh P. Sethi (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Ssethi421 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Could use some extra eyes. Thanks! . Randykitty (talk) 22:38, 13 April 2023 (UTC)

Oakley Kwon

• Oakley Kown (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Oakley Kwon (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Modpixel (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) created Oakley Kown on 12 April 2023. Admitted to be working for the subject at Special:Diff/1149494659.
• Hass mm (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) created simple:Oakley Kwon on 9 April 2023.
• Orange flask (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log) created Oakley Kwon on 13 April 2023.
• OakleyKwon (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Undisclosed paid editor/SPAs all promoting Oakley Kwon. User:OakleyKwon denied connections although recent activities suggest otherwise. Fancy Refrigerator ^(talk) 02:00, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

There are enough shenanigans here to start an SPI, which I will do soon. SmartSE (talk) 16:55, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Already done so at Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Modpixel, Modpixel and Orange flask are likely the same paid editor, but I am not certain about Hass mm. Fancy Refrigerator ^(talk) 16:59, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Aha thanks. I'll comment there. City Transformer (created by Hass mm) also has a distinct smell of UPE. SmartSE (talk) 17:01, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Ibrahim Aminu Kurami‎‎

• Ibrahim Aminu Kurami (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Uncle Bash007 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Onel5969 has twice added a COI tag to this article as he believes that the article creator, Uncle Bash007 has a COI. The article does not appear to be promotional to me and the circumstances make COI seem unlikely: The article subject was a legislator in a state of 5.8 million people, he was elected by a large margin, he died two days before the article was created, and his death had been reported in many news outlets. In a discussion on Uncle Bash007's talk page,[1] I asked Onel5969 for evidence of COI. Onel5969 did not respond in that discussion or by email. The only indication of COI is that Uncle Bash007 said, "I met him once and snapped his picture". Does meeting someone once and snapping a picture warrant an eternal COI tag on a BLP? Clayoquot (talk | contribs) 00:42, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

I actually did respond in that email. In fact, it was my response which elicited the comment from the editor, "Even though I met him once and snapped his picture as I am a photographer", which is the full quote. The picture does not appear to be of the type snapped by a fan or bystander, but by a professional photographer. In what capacity were they working that event? Were they paid for their work at that event?Onel5969 ^{TT me} 00:51, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

I did not receive an email from you. Perhaps you meant to say you responded in that discussion? Yes you did, but only before I asked for evidence of COI, not after. Clayoquot (talk | contribs) 01:55, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

I actually don't know what to say for you to believe. I clearly stated it that I do not have any personal connection with the subject, nor did I create the article to promote him, nor anyone paid me for the article. I am aware of Wikipedia policies and I personally have organised projects for writing articles on biographies more especially of people from my home town Katsina as I can get access to resources faster than when writing about someone far. I do most of my edits on Hausa Wikipedia and there I created hundreds of articles, I am also an administrator on Hausa Wikipedia. I will not talk any more on this topic.Uncle Bash007 (talk) 01:47, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Project/Rapid/Biography_Editathon_in_Katsina Uncle Bash007 (talk) 01:47, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

I cleaned up the article, I can see why COI was a concern; if this wasn't a COI, then it was hagiography.  // Timothy :: talk  01:23, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Aegean Oil

Pages

• Aegean Oil (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• See also Hellenic Environmental Center (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs), Dimitris Melissanidis (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs), Aegean Shipping Enterprises (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

Users

• Aekara-lfc21 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• Yioryiosaek21 (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)
• 2a00:23c7:e53e:ad01:257e:7a4b:b399:7c95 (talk · contribs · (/64) · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)
• 2a00:23c7:e53e:ad01:18b1:b126:e233:b3ab (talk · contribs · (/64) · deleted contribs · filter log · WHOIS · RBLs · http · block user · block log)

This is a continuation of Wikipedia:Conflict of interest/Noticeboard/Archive 196#User:Yioryiosaek21. Not trying for a do-over, there was no comment or resolution previously it was just archived. Posted again after discussion with another editor.

I've been trying to clean up the promo and primary refs from Aegean Oil and related articles. I've been meeting fierce resistance from the above accounts, and I've realized its become a slow moving edit war (Mea culpa). I think the above SPA accounts and IPs are related and have a COI with the subject.

I’ve stopped editing the article, until this gets resolved; they won't even allow maintenance tags to remain in the article and have just promo/primary refbombed the article. Any suggestions on how to proceed would be helpful. I've been adding clear edit summaries so my edits are reasonably easy to understand.  // Timothy :: talk  03:51, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

I agree, these accounts seem like classic promotional SPAs. Seems like there are related issues with the owner Dimitris Melissanidis's article too. If they don't respond to this post I'd just escalate to ANI. Hemiauchenia (talk) 04:19, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Hello their is no link between me and Dimitris Melissanidis or Aegean Oil. I just feel like I genuinely am posted factual information and I am backing it with sources. Timothy thinks he knows about the company however i am greek and i am trying to improve the page. Its not promotional, i am backing it with sources. He only does what he wants and doesn't allow other edits on this page now. He keeps reverting to what he only wants so i keep doing the same. When you create an account with wiki it says it created by people like you. Timothy isnt allowing that. I have provided factual information for Aegean oil. I dont see why it should be reverted to Timothys version which is extremely minimal and lacks information.

I hope you take into consideration what I have said

Many thanks 2A00:23C7:E53E:AD01:20EF:CED0:B6DF:A645 (talk) 06:47, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

• Comments: The article completely fails NPOV due to the above editors promo edits. If this were a new article it would be G11 CSD // Timothy :: talk  20:10, 16 April 2023 (UTC)
• This has now been resolved at ANI with the article being semi-protected and rolled back, and the editors blocked. Hemiauchenia (talk) 19:59, 17 April 2023 (UTC)

Saak Ovsepian

• Saak Ovsepian (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Mainmonty (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

New user making 11 edits and then producing a perfectly formatted biography article: that's more than a whiff of UPE... Randykitty (talk) 17:24, 18 April 2023 (UTC)

That's some seriously loud quacking. BubbaJoe123456 (talk) 17:42, 18 April 2023 (UTC)

I don't often deal with UPE. What's the usual way of handling cases like this one? --Randykitty (talk) 08:46, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Sylvia Bossu

• Sylvia Bossu (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Alcaios (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

My connection to the subject is clearly displayed on both my user page and the article's talk page. The article is neither laudatory nor promotional, it complies with WP:NPOV and is supported by fifteen or so WP:RS. Sylvia Bossu has entries in the Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, and Le Delarge, articles about her in Libération and Le Monde, and is the subject of several monographs. A COI template has been inserted into the article following a misinterpretation of copyright rules on Wikimedia (see), but the editor has so far provided no proof of WP:NPOV violation. I'm now asking for a third-party review. Alcaios (talk) 22:45, 18 April 2023 (UTC)

My point is that there is no apparent reason to put a COI template (for how many months?) while my connection to the subject is clearly displayed and the article shows no evidence of a WP rule being violated. The article now has a 'temporary scar' above its body, and a 'permanent scar' in the talk page (casting a shadow of doubt among readers), just because Jameslwoodward thought I was trying to fool them on Wikimedia Commons... The COI guideline does not prohibit me from editing this article as long as I do not violate WP:BIO, WP:NPOV, and WP:PROMO. (to be clear: I have nothing against Jameslwoodward, this is just a human reaction to defend my honour - I'm a honest contributor who received the Editor of the Week award in the past for its contribution to other subjects - and that of my mother). Alcaios (talk) 06:58, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

As I understand WP policy, it is not appropriate for close relatives to write or even edit articles. There will always be a tendency for such writing to err on the positive side.

As for "just because Jameslwoodward thought I was trying to fool them on Wikimedia Commons", that's silly. I don't engage in retribution games -- life is too short, and there is too much work for Admins as it is. And, by the way, he was trying to fool us on Commons. Of a photograph there, he said, "I'm the author of this picture." His only connection with the image was that (I think) he is in it at age 2 or so, and that he scanned the paper photograph to upload it. Scanning a paper photo doesn't by any stretch of the imagination make you its author. .     Jim . . (Jameslwoodward) (talk to me) 12:39, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

@Alcaios: By definition (as it is your mother), you have a clear COI. Your disclosures and efforts to maintain NPOV notwithstanding, you ought not edit the article directly, but rather limit your contributions to the talk page and making suggestions to changes to the article for others to evaluate. See WP:COIEDIT for some guidance. --SVTCobra 13:43, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

@Jameslwoodward: I did not scan it, I took a picture of the photograph with my mobile phone, that is why I wrote "I'm the author of the picture ... The photograph was taken in 1994" (while my user page clearly states that I was born in 1993). Again I did not try to fool anyone, I just misinterpreted copyright rules. The discussion is available here. That said, I will not edit the article any longer and wait for a third-party review (my only fear is that nobody is going to review the article in the coming months). Alcaios (talk) 15:07, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Cassandra De Pecol

• Cassandra De Pecol (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Lf02ka (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Editor Lf02ka clearly has some sort of vested interest in the article and refuses to respond to nor comply with WP:PAID instructions on their talk page.   –Skywatcher68 (talk) 14:43, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Based on File:Cassandra De Pecol Holding Her Two Guinness Records She Obtained.jpg that Lf02ka uploaded, they clearly are, at the very least, acquainted with De Pecol to have been able to take such a photo. WikiDan61^ChatMe!_ReadMe!! 14:58, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Lf02ka has been blocked by Bbb23. It appears we're done here. WikiDan61^ChatMe!_ReadMe!! 18:49, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Paid COI editor disruptively editing Judith Orloff over the course of ten years

RhondaBryant is the personal assistant of Judith Orloff, as Orloff's Facebook page helpfully states:

NOTE: TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE SESSION WITH Dr. Orloff PLEASE CONTACT HER ASSISTANT RHONDA BRYANT.

She has edited the page on multiple IPs in the block 2603:8000:b000:1dfa::/64 (block range · block log (global) · WHOIS (partial)), and all edits from this block this year have done the same thing: remove the fact that the author of Second Sight is a self-proclaimed psychic. She has an obvious COI and has persisted for a decade and should be indef blocked, now that she has finally surfaced on an actual account. Psiĥedelisto (talk • contribs) ^{please always ping!} 07:10, 20 April 2023 (UTC)

@Psiĥedelisto, you should take a look at WP:OUTING. WP tends be rather strict on that. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 07:27, 20 April 2023 (UTC)

@Gråbergs Gråa Sång: She edited the page with her real name and her boss's public Facebook profile advertises that she is her assistant. I don't think it falls afoul of the policy but if an admin feels differently they can feel free. Being a paid editor is not personal information when your boss has your name as her first point of contact. Psiĥedelisto (talk • contribs) ^{please always ping!} 07:53, 20 April 2023 (UTC)

It's worth mentioning that the user who created the article 15 years ago, Judith Orloff (talk · contribs), self-identified as Rhonda Bryant at User talk:Judith Orloff. The Judith Orloff account hasn't been used since 2008 and if it had been today, the user would have been blocked as an impersonating user name and asked to create an account with a different user name – apparently that's what she did, in 2013 when the RhondaBryant account was created. So there's clearly been COI editing involved right from the start, but it doesn't look like the user has been clearly informed about how to edit with a COI until you provided her with that information today. If she doesn't comply with WP:PAID, that would be a reason to block the account, but it's a bit early to say that at this point. If the IP disruption continues, semi-protection might be a good idea. --bonadea contributions talk 07:59, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

David B. Dusenbery

Special:Contributions/Ddusenbery Dusenbery created both his own article and one for James Verne Dusenberry who he might be related to. He has also created pages built mainly/entirely off his own research papers (e.g. thermotaxis). Multiple pages have been tagged with {{coi}} already and the account has been inactive since 2015, but he is credited with 101 live edits and a good bit of cleanup may be necessary so I figured a report here would be the appropriate place to start on that. Especially important given his work centers articles on basic biological functions which I'm sure get a lot of eyes on them daily. QuietHere (talk | contributions) 20:08, 20 April 2023 (UTC)

Also found at least one instance of apparent non-neutral language here where he dubs himself "father of Sensory ecology". QuietHere (talk | contributions) 20:09, 20 April 2023 (UTC)

Ocfec

• OC Fair & Event Center (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Ocfec (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

An account called “Ocfec” created most of the articles relating to the OC Fair in 2005. I believe ofec is an ayronym for OC Fair & Event Center. I have never encountered any COI before and all these pages have multiple sources.— Preceding unsigned comment added by GameOfAwesome (talk • contribs) 21:57, April 20, 2023 (UTC)

@GameOfAwesome: If Ocfec was editing now they could be blocked per WP:ROLE but they haven't edited in > 17 years (!) so it's unlikely that they will return. The only possible action other than cleaning up the articles would be to merge Pacific Amphitheatre (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) into the OC Fair & Event Center article. SmartSE (talk) 17:08, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Radhey8 - COI & Self-Promotion

This editor has created their own article, self admitted COI at Wikipedia:Teahouse#Claim_of_significance and also has stated that he is creating the article to “…boost his career…” User_talk:Radhey8#Proposed_deletion_of_Krishna_Kant_Singh_Bundela.

His user page and his first draft were all speedily deleted for violating not a web host and no citations, respectively. I’m not sure what to do about this as page reviewers let it through once then retracted it and placed a COI notice on the page despite COI stating you should not do such a task. No COI is being disclosed on the article or their talk page either but it has been brought up to them. I wanted to pass this to editors who are more familiar with this process. I have placed the tag on his page to notify him of this discussion. ThatFungi (talk) 04:32, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Just for the record, I’ve left them a warning about how to manage a COI. Zippybonzo | Talk (he|him) 06:45, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

@Zippybonzo I had assumed you had done that under #8 on his talk page (same link I referenced above). He is still editing it though, which is why I brought it up here. ThatFungi (talk) 07:17, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Hi @ThatFungi I hope you're doing well. As a reviewer we look into all aspect before accepting the draft and moving it to mainspace. You did the right thing that you opened the discussion here. I also see @Zippybonzo guided the editor with all the relevant policies he could do. If he still editing he is promoting self which is not acceptable here. So I believe admins should take a call on this matter. Thanks C1K98V ^{(💬 ✒️ 📂)} 07:47, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

In response to my COI warning I left them, they have stated that the article subject asked them to make the page after seeing their freelance status on social media. Pinging @C1K98V. Zippybonzo | Talk (he|him) 08:06, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

@Zippybonzo, Its a clear case of WP:UPE and WP:COI. I assumed this was coming from his behaviour and reply. I would suggest to protect the recreation of article directly into mainspace and deletion of the draft. Thanks C1K98V ^{(💬 ✒️ 📂)} 09:46, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

Well, they have insisted they're not being paid, so I think we're in AGF territory. They definitely have a COI and I've left a link to the "how to disclose" section of WP:COI on their talk page. They've also promised to work through the licensing issues of the photo they've uploaded. As long as they follow through, I think we can just wait and see what happens next. I'm going to ping them to make sure they're aware of this discussion, they may have missed the notice on their talk page (@Radhey8). 199.208.172.35 (talk) 17:51, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

User:StudyUPTex

This new user @StudyUPTex may be a associated with University of Texas Press. They have edited a number of articles to include links to books published by University of Texas Press. Should their changes be reverted?

• StudyUPTex (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

ScienceFlyer (talk) 21:58, 21 April 2023 (UTC)

One Little Goat Theatre Company

• One Little Goat Theatre Company (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Adam Seelig (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Michael Seelig (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Heinz Seelig (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)
• Chadgadya (talk · contribs · deleted contribs · logs · filter log · block user · block log)

Promotional editing, largely with respect to the theater company and its founder, going back more than twelve years. The theater and Adam Seeling articles are especially bad and in need of major clean up. 2601:19E:4180:6D50:65F5:930C:B0B2:CD63 (talk) 03:10, 22 April 2023 (UTC)