[Foundation-l] Re: Formal request: Wikinews project

[Andrew Lih]

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:27:19 +1000, Tim Starling
<t.starling at physics.unimelb.edu.au> wrote:
> I don't understand why Wikinews will have any more exposure to legal
> liability than Wikipedia. Wikipedia has been threatened with legal
> action numerous times, for example by Khalid bin Mahfouz. Wikipedia has
> many biographies of people who are only notable due to recent news
> coverage, and these biographies typically consist of facts and rumours
> originally published by the mainstream media.

Technically, you're right that there is no increase in legal
liability. However the nature of Wikinews brings about more legal
situations currently not seen with Wikipedia. If Wikinews engages in
primary source reporting, then it's possible to have whistleblower or
leaked information make it into the hands of Wikinews
editors/reporters, like with the Pentagon Papers or with the Valerie
Plame identity. This is not too far fetched considering the positive
reputation Wikipedia has right now. If the US Feds come knocking and
say, "reveal your source," Wikinews has got to be prepared for that.

> My point is just that if we decide to avoid Wikinews, it shouldn't be
> for legal reasons.

Yes, but Wikinews should have procedures in place and lawyers ready to
tap on such matters.

-- 
Andrew Lih
andrew.lih at gmail.com