[Wikimedia-l] Updated Terms of Use

[Birgitte_sb at yahoo.com]

On Apr 27, 2012, at 12:49 AM, Andrew Garrett <agarrett at wikimedia.org> wrote:

> On Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 2:26 AM, Philippe Beaudette
> <philippe at wikimedia.org>wrote:
> 
>> Hi everyone,
>> 
>> As you may be aware, Wikimedia has updated its Terms of Use.  This updated
>> version will become effective on May 25, 2012, and can be reviewed
>> here<http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Terms_of_Use_%282012%29/en>.[1]
>> A short overview of some of the changes is set out
>> here<http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/New_Terms_of_use>.
>> [2]
>> 
>> Best wishes,
>> Philippe
>> 
> 
> Terms of use are boring, and most of us are pretty jaded by how
> impenetrable, legalistic and, well, awful, most terms of use are on the
> internet.
> 
> I want to congratulate you and your department on NOT doing this. The new
> terms of use are written in clear English, well set out, and cover what
> seem to be the appropriate bases without being overly verbose and cautious.
> 
> Well done, Philippe, Geoff, and everyone else.
> 
> 

I am also impressed. It actually ends up being the best one piece introduction to what Wikimedia *is* that I have ever read.  A lot of thought and consideration were soundly invested in that document. Clarity on that level is HARD, but well worth the effort. I also am thinking that the staff have just set a rather high bar for the board. Imagine if all board resolutions were written with as just as much focus on clarity and as on circumspection. These terms of use show it is possible.

Birgitte SB