Task force/Recommendations/Alliances and partnerships
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Recommendation in a nutshell: Please help create abstract for this recommendation by adding it to this template! Thanks. |
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This is a recommendation as submitted by the alliances and partnership task force. Please provide input and suggestions on Talk:Task force/Recommendations/Alliances and partnerships 1 |
Recommendation: Alliances 1 - "Free-culture alliance"
Outline
- Question/Problem
Are alliances with external groups desirable for the Wikimedia Foundation to undertake and if so: with whom; what kind; and how?
- Strategy
It is recommended that the Wikimedia Foundation lay the groundwork for a formal "free-culture alliance" with other organisations with whom it already has strong community, ideological and professional ties.
Assertion
Alliance(s) with other organisations are important and positive (answering "are alliances desirable?")
Sub assertion
The WMF cannot fulfill its vision acting alone
Fact
Fact
Sub assertion
Certain other organisations have both compatible missions and cultures with (many of whom we are already working with to some degree).
Fact
Organisations like the EFF, Creative Commons and the FSF have all (previously and/or currently) worked closely with the WMF on legal issues and share fundamental principles summarised as "free culture"
Fact
Organisations like OpenStreetMap, StatusNet and OLPC have (previously or currently) worked closely with the WMF on content sharing and have common fundamental principles, organisational structures (non-profit, utilising crowdsourcing).
Assertion
By their nature, Alliances can only be with a limited range of organisations (answering "with whom?")
Sub assertion
An alliance is a relationship of mutual trust and based on shared principles
Sub assertion
The Wikimedia community has strongly held principles on certain issues, any alliance partner must also share these principles.
Fact
We have a statement of Values that sets out core requirements we hold for ourselves and would look for in any ally.
Fact
The WMF legal framework is of a Charitable/non-profit/foundation and allies would need to be too
Fact
"free-culture approved" is key to the WMF and it would also need to be the case for allies both legally and ideologically.
Assertion
That an alliance with likeminded "free-culture" organisations would be loose, but deep, and be a network of alliances, not a hub-spoke system.
Sub assertion
An alliance is a wide-ranging and long-term relationship
Fact
Fact
Sub assertion
Organisations that are able to ally with the WMF could/should be able and willing to also ally with each other
Fact
Fact
Sub assertion
Because of the nature of the Wikimedia community, and probably the nature of the stakeholders of other alliance partners, it would be difficult to have firm/specific/legally-binding alliance goals.
Assertion
(answering "how?")