On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 14:17, Andrew Whitworth <wknight8111(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 7:56 AM, Alison Wheeler
<wikimedia(a)alisonwheeler.com> wrote:
AIUI there are a number of changes required to
the new AoA/MoA as a result
of Charity law/registration changes, although these are probably mostly a
matter of detail not major rewrites.
The WER documents caused no problems whatsoever, indeed they were
specifically designed to permit everything we might require, maintain
control in the hands of the editing members (should anything awful
happen), etc.
As a subtle note, the requirements of the chapcom have also changed
since V1 became a chapter. One thing to point out is that we're
pushing very hard for a serious divorce between the concept of
"editors" on the wiki, and the concept of membership in the various
national chapters. Your MoA/AoA should not include any mention of a
relationship between the two, your membership should not be limited to
active editing wikimedians. There are a lot of open-content
enthusiasts in the world who can strengthen your cause but who do not
participate in these particular projects.
The only 'root problem' WER experienced
was the well-over-a-year holdup
with the WMF not liking that we had (correctly and on a firm legal basis)
not used "Wikimedia" in the name of the company. There were no other legal
issues at all.
For as long as I've been a chapters committee member we've been
discouraging chapters from using "Wikimedia" in the name. In fact,
we've recently rejected one proposal for exactly that reason.
Actually, that is not exactly accurate. Historically, we _have_ pushed
for "chapters" which actually answer the requirements and follow the
guidelines we've put together to use the name Wikimedia.
Wikimedia UK history is a different one, since WER precedes our
trademark being secured in the UK and this would have beena problem.
Other organisations which do not, at this stage, answer the exact
requirements needed to become a chapter are indeed, discouraged to use
the trademark in their names.
Today, it might be interesting to revisit this notion and see if
Wikimedia UK can register under the legal name of Wikimedia UK and
whether this does not constitute a liability.
Cheers,
Delphine
--
~notafish
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