Wikipedia wants PR firm to stop paid editing services, hints at lawsuit

[nsane.forums]

Wiki-PR apparently created new articles at prices up to $1,000, plus fees.

For months, Wikipedia has been battling a company called “Wiki-PR,” which purportedly sells paid editing services on the well-known online encyclopedia. In October 2013, Wikipedia announced it blocked or banned hundreds of editor accounts in response.

Now the Wikimedia Foundation (which runs Wikipedia) is escalating its game: on Tuesday it issued a cease and desist letter to Wiki-PR, demanding that the company immediately halt editing Wikipedia “unless and until [Wiki-PR has] fully complied with the terms and conditions outlined by the Wikimedia Community.”

Based on the three-page letter, which the Wikimedia Foundation published on its website Tuesday afternoon, it appears that Wikimedia attempted to solve the situation amicably prior the situation reaching this stage.

The attorney representing the Wikimedia Foundation, Patrick Gunn, wrote:

In your communications with me and the Foundation, you have stated your intent to work with the community to satisfy its conditions for lifting the ban. Yet, yesterday, you admitted that Wiki-PR has continued to actively market paid advocacy editing services despite the ban—consistent with evidence that we have discovered independently. This is deeply troubling and suggests that Wiki-PR is circumventing the ban at the same time it professes to engage with the community about complying with it.

Ars has contacted Wiki-PR for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.

Gunn concluded: "Should you fail to comply with the terms of this cease and desist letter, Wikimedia Foundation is prepared to take any necessary legal action to protect its rights."

View: Original Article

[calguyhunk]

A little surprising that this hasn't happened more frequently in all these years, tbh. This is nothing short of professional vandalism, the way I see it. :angry:

Give me Willy on wheels any day LOL! At least he had a sense of humor, annoying though it might have been :p

This reminds me of an Indian female news anchor/journalist, who kept deleting from her Wiki page, any references to a high level male politician she was sleeping with at the time. Don't know how that one ended between her and the Wiki admins, but it was a big deal on the net at the time - something that the mainstream Indian media just conveniently managed to gloss over ;)

[DKT27]

A little surprising that this hasn't happened more frequently in all these years, tbh. This is nothing short of professional vandalism, the way I see it. :angry:

Give me Willy on wheels any day LOL! At least he had a sense of humor, annoying though it might have been :P

This reminds me of an Indian female news anchor/journalist, who kept deleting from her Wiki page, any references to a high level male politician she was sleeping with at the time. Don't know how that one ended between her and the Wiki admins, but it was a big deal on the net at the time - something that the mainstream Indian media just conveniently managed to gloss over ;)

You are making references I'm completely unaware of until now. :)

So, when did Willy on wheels thing happen? Also, who was the journalist? :P

[calguyhunk]

... when did Willy on wheels thing happen?

Almost a decade back ;)

... who was the journalist? :P

Funny you didn't ask who the (male) politician was! :P

Here you go - xetcr.wordpress.com

[DKT27]

... when did Willy on wheels thing happen?

Almost a decade back ;)

... who was the journalist? :P

Funny you didn't ask who the (male) politician was! :P

Here you go - xetcr.wordpress.com

That's why I don't know about it. :) I was new to the internet like 9 years ago. :P

Ah. I may have heard about it. Thing is, gossip is not really of my liking. :P So didn't quite know about it. Might have heard a little on news channels or so.

Having said, surprising to see Omar Abdulla in it.