[Foundation-l] what is partnership ?

[Neil Harris]

Anthere wrote:

>Hmmmm.
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>It is certainly a bit strange that we should use the same word to define very different realities. I think Lost Oasis is a partner. A private firm giving funds for Wikimania will be a partner. Using google search right now, is a partnership. Us using MediaWiki is a partnership. People like JoiIto or Sunir Shah, are partners as well. Kennisnet might be a partnership. Telebotanica might be a partnership. And BBC doing things with Angela is also a partnership. Should we display all these logos ? How to measure value of each ? Often, it just mean : we share some values.
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I agree: there can be many partners, and there's no reason not to be 
partners with many people and organizations. But with the Wikipedia 
brand becoming more and more valuable, and official trademark 
recognition in the offing, there needs to be an official process for 
registration of Wikipedia/Wikimedia partners. In particular, I believe 
that the Foundation will have a legal requirement to defend its 
trademarks Real Soon Now, and not doing so risks losing the rights over 
that trademark and becoming a [[genericized trademark]].

The Foundation urgently needs an official policy before anything 
damaging occurs to the Wikipedia/Wikimedia brand. An official partner 
list page would be a good idea: so the Foundation can say "if you're not 
on this page, you're not an official partner, and here's how to apply to 
be a Wikimedia partner, dear Bill/Melinda [delete as applicable]"

-- Neil