Libel by Wikimedia

While libel against Wikimedia seems legally not to be able to exist, the potential for a libel suit alleging libel by Wikimedia to seek damages from the Wikimedia Foundation is quite real. Consider that:

• Wikimedia publishes material in many languages all over the world. The odds of there being at least one libellous statement in that corpus is 100%.

• Wikimedia publishes a vile mailing list seemingly devoted to lies about its opponents, and even its supporters. It is sometimes described as a "libel pit". Over time, however, James Wales and others of his friends always prevail due to his ownership status, and his final editorial decisions always stand. Accordingly he or Bomis (which controls the Wikimedia Board of Trustees majority) is definitely the legal publisher, at least of these lists.

• False and unsubstantiated claims stored in Wikimedia archives and sources are spread all over the net via mirrors, and used constantly in ongoing attacks on the reputation of parties who it thinks oppose it or its objectives.

Furthermore, vandalbot code is likewise distributed and used in denial of service attacks - a different and criminal matter.

It may not matter, legally, whether this is done with knowledge of Wikimedia or not. They are legally responsible to supervise what they have published and to take steps to remove materials that are provably false, libellous or otherwise violate the law in the places where the material is visible, received by users.