Time by time I am going accross the data of my collection I don't check that often.... like companies and studios. Before I kind of "merge" my own data I would like to know your opinion how to handle this:

We have several versions of the same company/studio again and again, and if I check for an update of the profile and there IS one, it's nearly sure that the studios remains. So just as explanation for what I mean:

Göttinger-Film-Atelier GmbH / Filmatelier Göttingen
Rialto Film / Rialto Film Preben Philipsen
LISA Film / Lisa Film GmbH / Lisa-Film / Lisa-Film GmbH / Lisa-Film München
Lions Gate / Lionsgate (in several versions)

The first two are kind of the same company, only changed their name and/or the kind of the company. All those Lisas are all the same, only in different spellings. Like Lisa, we have some more with or without a dash.

So first of all: Is there anywhere on the site a list of studios? I did some research but couldn't find what I am looking for: A list which shows for example:
LISA Film (correct) -> All other spellings are wrong

Maybe the main part of you is more in cast & crew than in studios, I don't know, but as the huge growth of my collection might have reached an end and only a little bit will come time by time I could spend time to replace the wrong spellings by the correct ones (if there is any list).

If the list doesn't exist yet: Would anybody of the staff out there start one - maybe with an own forum-thread with suggestions?

For actors, who changed their name e. g. we have it that the version of the name he/she is credited most times is the one for the database and the other spellings have to be "credted as". I know that we can't do this for studios, but I simply try to reduce my list at least 15 - 20 % with changing all the several spellings to one.

Tell me what you think about and if I am the only one who can't see the forrest because of too many trees.....

Quoting rdodolak:
The answer is it depends.  The studio or media company name is the name used for that time period in question and/or the specific release.  Using one of your examples, Lionsgate used to be know as "Lions Gate", but changed their name to Lionsgate.  So, in short, both are correct depending on the time period in question.

Okay, that's at least partially acceptable, but what about "Lionsgate" vs. "Lionsgate Films" or Lisa Film, LISA Film, Lisa-Film.

Especially if I get the idea: Let's see all the movies the company produced. Then I have to check 5 boxes for just one company? For Rialto Film it is also a reason of the time period. But - at least in theory - it could be reduced to the two versions I listed.

This makes me thinking about one idea:

As so many things have a standard, why not the studios? And also a "credited as" line there?

I listed just a few examples and could continue with several versions of KSM, New KSM and others.
Hm, sometimes it's a jungle of rules or no rules...

But this information will make me "modifying" at least my own database more personal and merge some of the entries to shorten the list. Simply for a personal better overview