Who owns the fact that when I Google anything it goes to that place?
That is worth a ton of money. As you have all commented, the content itself can easily be copied.
It's the name, i.e. the brand, and the fact that every search gets there. Who owns that? Could it be bought?
If 'it' were bought, would there be anger? Would people feel something had been stolen from them? Who?
QUOTE(Kelly Martin @ Thu 27th January 2011, 9:30pm)
Greg pretty much nailed it: the main transactable item of value related to Wikipedia is the name itself, more specifically the trademark "Wikipedia" and the (related) domain names of wikipedia.org and wikipedia.com. The Foundation currently holds all of these things and could dispose of them if it so saw fit, but the proceeds of such a sale would remain trapped within the Foundation and could only be used for purposes consistent with its tax-exempt status and purpose as declared in its charter and bylaws, or else conveyed to some other tax-exempt entity (or escheated to the state).
Could members of the Foundation be paid a large sum of money to dispose of 'it' for well-below market value? Market value is defined by having a site such that any search on anything gets to 'it'.
QUOTE(Ottava @ Thu 27th January 2011, 9:14pm)
QUOTE(Peter Damian @ Thu 27th January 2011, 3:00pm)
I've heard claims here occasionally that Wikipedia could be sold off. Is that possible?
Why would anyone want to buy it? It is already CC-BY-SA-3.0. That means anyone can take the stuff, repackage it, and make money.
It is like marrying the town slut who promises to do anything sexual for anyone at any time. Would you really want to marry her? Maybe someone is crazy enough, but I am sure they are prepared for the diseases that will surely come with it.
No 'it' is not CC-BY-SA-3.0. 'It' is owning something that brings every search into 'it'. Town slut is fine. If I bought it I would get rid of the lowlife scum who hang around her and treat her like a princess. More like a call-girl or high-class hooker. Maybe even a princess.
QUOTE(thekohser @ Thu 27th January 2011, 9:03pm)
It's possible to disband a non-profit, but
generally, the assets have to go to another non-profit.
Why do the assets have to go to another non-profit? In the UK, the Church commissioners can sell off an old church to property developers. Can WMF sell Wikipedia? I mean the name, and the URL and 'it'. A bit like a church on a valuable site in mid-town.
Sorry, I'm mixing up metaphors again (hookers, churches, oh well).
[edit] I looked at the UK rules, and the charity commission has to give permission for disposal of property. I don't know if there is equivalent legislation for 'it'.
This post has been edited by Peter Damian: 
Who owns Wikipedia?, I am not a lawyer
Peter Damian Who owns Wikipedia? 
