Nicolas Weeger wrote:

...

I would like to state one more point, finally. Just like all of you, I have never received a single Euro for anything I have done for Wikimedia or its projects. I am doing all this in my spare time, with often very little public appreciation, and the primary goal to help the projects along. I believe that it is of paramount importance that in a volunteer organization, rather than following a strict chain of command, we need to work in a fashion where volunteers feel empowered to make a positive difference.

Aren't you being paid by a partner to work on Wikidata?

...

Erik

Regards Nicolas Weeger

Hoi, The fact is that Erik will be paid when he delivers the software. This contract is explicitly outside of the Wikimedia Foundation and it has been from the start. It has been outside of WMF with the prior knowledge of Jimbo. This is just to make clear that the fact that Erik was willing to write the Wikidata and Ultimate Wiktionary has nothing to do with the WMF. The fact that he was willing to do this for so little money would be the one thing that associates it with the charitable goals of the Foundation.

I know it is wrong to suggest that Erik gives precendence to the developement of Wikidata and Ultimate Wiktionary. He has indicated to me that his position as an officer of the WMF may interfere with his role as the developer for Wikidata and Ultimate Wiktionary. So to make clear where his priorities are, he indicated that it would be important for me to find people who want to take up the work that needs to be done after the initial work on UW.

I am horrified with the recent events; the two people that have inspired me most are having a damaging public fight. I love Anthere for the inspiring talk she gave in Rotterdam, to me it was the single most inspiring event for me. She spoke about the need for having information and infrastructure for countries in Afrika and Asia. And UW will help. I love Erik for the inspiration that he gave me, his ideas on Wikidata were basic and enabled the idea of Ultimate Wiktionary. The collaboration with Erik is going well; you may appreciate that for me the moment for UW to be available to the public cannot come soon enough :)

There are some fundamental differences in the opinions on how to proceed. My problem is that in essence we all want the same result and we lose sight of what we aim for. Our aim is that we make good information free for all. Individuals and companies, volunteers and professionals can all play a part in that. Essential is that we cooperate and use algorithms that work for such a diversified group of people.

Thanks, GerardM