As long as WMF does not issue press passes there is no way that the WMF could be considered the to be the editor or the publisher due to the issuing of press passes. As long as the WMF is not the editor or the publisher, and are merely providing a place for others to post they are for the most part legally protected from responsibility for the content. Issuing press passes could potentially change their status and a court could rule they are responsible for the content. It is unlikely, but is still a very serious risk. A separate organization completely eliminates this risk for the foundation and still allows us to have press passes. -Craig Spurrier *This is slightly oversimplified, but I believe pretty much accurate.
Chris Luth wrote:
NEWBIE QUESTION: Sorry for coming into the discussion a bit late, but I've been following this for the last couple of days and must have missed and am still failing to understand the legalities/conflicts of interest that would prevent WMF from being the issuer of press passes. What's up with that? Why the need for a separate organization? Chris
On Aug 22, 2007, at 10:29 AM, wikinews-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikinews-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org wrote:
Message: 6 Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:29:53 -0400 From: Craig Spurrier <craig@craigweb.net mailto:craig@craigweb.net> Subject: Re: [Wikinews-l] Proposal for the creation of a Wikinews foundation To: Wikinews mailing list <wikinews-l@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikinews-l@lists.wikimedia.org> Message-ID: <46CC80A1.6000800@craigweb.net mailto:46CC80A1.6000800@craigweb.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Wikinews Markie wrote:
the accreditation process atm is mostly for english speakers although passes have been issued to others. the main reason its only eng atm is because its the only process to have acheived approval from the foundation.
It was never actually approved by the foundation, nor can they ever safely approve it, hence the need for a separate organization. -Craig Spurrier [[n:Craig Spurrier]]
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