[Wikipedia-l] foundation of a German registered association

[Hr. Daniel Mikkelsen]

On Fri, 23 Jan 2004, Lars Aronsson wrote:

> > I think that the solution is quite simple -- for the Wikimedia
> > Foundation to form and control the German subsidiary.  This subsidiary
> > will give the ability for Germans to give tax deductible donations,
> > will serve as a legal point of contact for any Germany-specific
> > concerns, etc.

> And on the other hand, German tax laws might require (I don't know)
> that the German organization be totally independent under its own
> bylaws in order to be registered ("incorporate") and qualify for tax
> exemption.  I think I warned against this sort of conflict a year ago.
> I strongly recommend that you all look at how the German chapter of
> ISOC (which is an "e.V.", see www.isoc.de) has solved this.  I assume
> they have a working model already, that could be copied.  In fact, the
> ISOC chapter model could be copied for more countries than Germany, if
> Wikipedians want to form local chapters in their area.

In Norway, to get tax breaks, etc. the organiation has to be democratically
organized. Which I guess wouldn't work for Wikimedia yet.

-- Daniel