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(a)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(a)craigweb.net <mailto:craig@craigweb.net>>
Subject: Re: [Wikinews-l] Proposal for the creation of a Wikinews
foundation
To: Wikinews mailing list <wikinews-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
<mailto:wikinews-l@lists.wikimedia.org>>
Message-ID: <46CC80A1.6000800(a)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]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Wikinews-l mailing list
Wikinews-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikinews-l