[Foundation-l] Texts deleted on French Wikisource

[Peter Gervai]

On Fri, Jun 4, 2010 at 15:54, Mike Godwin <mnemonic at gmail.com> wrote:

> We run an encyclopedia, not a free legal clinic.  (By comparison, when I
> worked for EFF, I was actually empowered to give free legal advice to people
> who called in for help.)

Couldn't we then use EFF for this specific occasion? Aren't they willing?

> Peter Gervai writes:
>
> Or we can reasonably expect them to ask for real legal advice from (or
>> paid by) the WMF and _then_ accept the _known_ risk to file a
>> counter-notice.
>>
>
> What happens if they follow the legal advice from WMF and then face
> liability anyway? (This sometimes happens even when the best advice is
> given.)

I'm sure that the advice would've been detailed this possible outcome
as well, weighting its probability.

The problem is that average editor have close to zero knowledge about
the chances; either it's 80% that you'll get sued successfully, 50%
that it's gonna happen or 5% (or maybe 0%).

> WMF is not insured against the malpractice lawsuit that community
> members might bring in that case.

I'm sure you have at least a dozen way to phrase your possible disclaimer. :-)))

But I was mainly referred to the request to people to back up their
claim with counternotices, and why this wasn't realistic. If nobody
can give advice then I don't expect people to take undefined risks.
And I do not expect WMF to be able to give that advice, acknowledged.
We're clearly not equipped for that.

Peter