[Foundation-l] Let's switch to CC-BY-SA

[Brian McNeil]

Thomas Dalton wrote:

>I'm well aware of the legal issues if the WMF is the publisher. Just
>because it would be preferable for it not to be doesn't make it the
>case. A free web host doesn't incorporate your content into their
>site, it just hosts your site. Wikipedia is a complex web application
>which incorporates user generated content, that's very different from
>a free web host.

>From my perspective, WMF provides a powerful publishing tool and content
framework. You could liken it to free web hosting surrounding your content
with adverts to generate revenues.

>I don't know what the legal definition of a publisher is, but the most
>obvious definition is "one who makes something available to the
>public". The WMF does that for Wikipedia content in the same way a
>book publisher makes the contents of a book available to the public.

In no way does the Foundation vet the published content; that is all done by
the community. There's not a huge amount of policy set from Board level (eg
NPOV), but I believe these are like a free web host having a "no porn" rule.


Brian McNeil