[Foundation-l] Blackout at Italian Wikipedia

[Thomas Goldammer]

2011/10/5 John Vandenberg <jayvdb at gmail.com>:
> The WMF is very unlikely to approve of this, as that would be
> influencing legislation.
>

Why should the WMF not (at least try to) influence legislation if that
helps the goal of distributing free knowledge? I think it should do
exactly that, whenever possible and suitable, as for instance in this
case. And it is done by chapters already. Wikimedia Serbia has made a
good example in this Italian law case on how that can be done (thx to
Milos), namely for example by writing WM-official protest or support
notes to politicians, embassadors, etc. Another such thing was what WM
Germany did in the past for state or federal elections, when they
interviewed the candidating parties about certain questions relevant
for the free knowledge movement and publishing these interviews, which
is a much more indirect way to influence legislation, but still.

BR
Th.