Ivo Köthnig wrote:
And as Kurt sayed thats not the only reason. For example, we want an official organisation which can speak for the project. At the moment we always have to say: "Oh, this is Kurt, he has written some articles, like 10000 others." (Note: Yes, it are so many registered users in the german wikipedia now.) It sounds much better if you say: "This is Kurt (or whoever). He is the president of the German Wikimedia Foundation..."
I hereby appoint Kurt to be Vice President, Germany, of the international Wikimedia Foundation. It's as easy as that, you know. There is nothing to limit participation in the existing foundation, for anyone on earth.
Or let there be some problems with copyright and someone in germany get sued? An offical german organisation could help much faster in that case.
Yes, I can see that might be possible, but it is for this reason that I think it wise if we consult with a German attorney.
Also it makes no sence for me donating money for the Wikimedia Foundation, try to realize some projects in Europe or Germany and ask the foundation for money which is than send back (keep in mind what you sayed about the overhead).
Yes, I agree with this, but this only implies that we should take whatever steps are necessary for the Wikimedia Foundation, a global organization with a legal presence in several countries, to open a European bank account, to be managed by the elected members of the German branch of course, but under the supervision of the whole organization.
--Jimbo