[WikiEN-l] Re: Announcing Wikimedia Foundation

[Ray Saintonge]

Sheldon Rampton wrote:

> Seriously, folks...has anyone considered approaching some of the big 
> computer companies like Microsoft or Apple, or for that matter the 
> Free Software Foundation? I'd think that some of them might have an 
> interest in coming up with some funding. For example, Apple is 
> primarily in the hardware business and might have an interest in 
> encouraging the development of an open source internet platform for 
> multimedia that motivates people to go out and buy more iBooks and 
> iPods so they can use iMovie and iTunes.

Those strike me as tainted sources for revenue.  I would be suspicious 
of anything from them, and any potential strings attached.  Sometimes 
sudden riches can be a more serious problem than being poor.

A provision that limits the amount that a person can contribute could 
protect the foundation from anyone who might come along and use his 
money to influence the direction of the foundation.  We already know 
Jimbo's approach to many issues, and we've mostly all accepted his Wiki 
philosophy.  That does not guarantee that some new person won't come 
along and use money to convince us to take some direction.

I've raised budgetting before, because I see that as an issue that needs 
serious consideration.  Once we know how much we need, we'll know how 
much to get from Wikipedians.  Some potential expenses can be dangerous. 
 Paid staff can be a problem  because they can have a conflict of 
interest between their personal well-being and the well-being of the 
foundation.

Eclecticology