[WikiEN-l] Discrimination on Wikipedia

[Gregory Kohs]

Jim Schuler wisely stated:

>Might depend on tax law.  If I remember correctly (it's been 15 years since
>I dealt with this), 501(c) and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and private foundations
>can run afoul of the IRS if there is a clear indication of active
>discrimination.

But then also stated:

>In this case, I don't see any evidence of an active policy
>of discrimination...

There actually *is* a fairly active policy of discrimination that's been
carried out for the
past few months.

Employees of public relations firms are not allowed to edit Wikipedia.

http://blog.bitepr.com/2006/08/jimmy_wales_on_.html

The IRS and the appropriate Attorneys General will certainly get involved
when an
organization operating with tax-deductible funding begins to administer
itself in ways
that run contrary to its stated public mission.  The State of Florida's
Division of Consumer
Services was sufficiently concerned about Wikipedia's discrimination against

commercial interests (in light of the GFDL explicitly stating the license
must not
limit commercial use of the work), that it contacted Brad Patrick in late
November.

The earlier comment by Earle Martin that "Wikipedia is a privately-operated
members'
club" is a sad statement of empirical evidence that the Wikipedia leadership
has
clearly lost sight of its being a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that goes well
beyond a
private club.

(Still on a Wiki-break, but this list is just too fascinating.)

-- 
Gregory Kohs
Cell: 302.463.1354