On 10/23/07, Nick <heligolandwp(a)googlemail.com> wrote:
We need an open and sensible discussion about adverts,
but I suspect this
won't be happening. It's not upto the users now, it's solely upto the
board
and if they want to try and run Wikipedia on donations, it's their
prerogative.
<snip>
Actually, there is another option. Some corporation could decide that $100M
in advertising potential is a great incentive to try and build a better
mousetrap.
A corporation willing to invest $10M could very credibly seek to fork
Wikipedia, develop an advertising supported model, and introduce changes in
the community structure that might attact new volunteers. It is not a sure
thing by any means, but a large stable bankroll from advertising would go a
long way. There is no guarantee that the most important internet
encyclopedia in 2015 will be the one run by the WMF.
-Robert Rohde