Wikimedia UK/Company name

This page is an archive of the discussion about the proposed name of the chapter. This page is no longer live. Further relevant comments should be made on the main article's talk page rather than here so that this page is preserved as an historic record.
--Alison Wheeler 14:45, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

At the November 27th meeting in London, it was decided that the official name of the company would not be "Wikimedia UK", although this would be the operating name used under licence from the Foundation. Agreement was not reached on what the official name of the company would be, and this page is an attempt to propose options and (hopefully) gain agreement on one before the next meeting.

Feel free to add your suggestions and comment on existing suggestions on this page. Idications of support are also useful in the comments section. Thryduulf 15:44, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

Update: We've gone with Wiki Educational Resources - David Gerard 13:41, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

Guidelines

• For legal reasons the name must not include any of the following:
  • "Charity"(?)
  • "Group"
  • "Foundation" (?)
  • "Limited" or "Ltd"
  • "PLC"
  • "United Kingdom", "England", etc. but "UK" is allowed with further reference to higher authority.
  • "Wikimedia", "Wikipedia" or any other name used by the Wikimedia Foundation
  • Any profanity or other word/name likely to cause offense (if you are not sure, don't use it)
  • A name used by, or likely to cause confusion with, an existing organisation

• For other reasons, e.g. simplicity, the following should be avoided:
  • Names that are overy descriptive of what we might do
  • Names that are likely to be used as operating names by other/future organisations
    • We aren't going to be using this name much, so it isn't going to be well known. It saves hassle for everybody involved if we take a name that another oganisation might want. We want to be friends with similar organisations and they wont want the hassle. Lawyers cost money.

Suggested names

Wiki Educational Resources

• Pros:
  • Describes what we want to do
• Cons:
  • having "Educational" in the name could lead to confusion as an "educational charity" is legally a specific type of charity that is different to what we are going to be. (struck out by jguk as it is not believed (absent references:) ) to be true)
• Comments:
  • Discussed at the 27th November meeting.
  • Domain wikieducationalresources.org.uk is available

Note from jguk: This is the best name that we (well, Gordon) came up with at the meeting. Absent anyone coming up with a different name before we incorporate that is so fantastic that we all say "yes, let's use that", I propose going with this one. Names of companies can be changed with the 75% support of members who choose to vote, Jguk 20:26, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

Alternatively: Wiki Information (or Knowledge) Resources

• Pros:
  • Describes what we want to do
  • Avoids the problem of above
• Cons:
  • bit vague
• Comments:
  • Discussed at the 27th November meeting.
  • Personally I'd go for Wiki Information Resources. though please take my views with the appropriate weight, given this is the first comment I've made related to Wikimedia UK anywhere ;-) The Land 19:27, 28 November 2005 (UTC) (copied from talk page. 21:13, 28 November 2005 (UTC))

Wikiprojects UK

• Pros:
  • Compact, broad, neutral name
• Cons:
  • Is mentioning "Wiki" a con?
• Comments:
  • If there have to be separate words in the title (I think someone mentioned this), then change to "Wiki Projects UK"
  • Domain wikiprojects.org.uk seems available - wikiprojects.org is "parked free" (what does this mean?) Cormaggio ^@ 11:21, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

Wiki Philosophy Advocacy Organisation

• Pros:
  • Describes the philosophy we're trying to promote
• Cons:
  • Very complicated; difficult to spell.
• Commments:
  • Suggested at the 27th November meeting and not well liked.
  • Domain wikiphilosophy.org available

Open Content Wikis

• Pros:
  • Makes it clear that we'll be involved with things like Wikipedia.
• Cons:
  • We want to be involved with more than just Wikis
• Comments:
  • Domain opencontent.org available
  • Domain opencontentwikis.org available

Open Content Organisation

• Pros:
  • Not restricted to Wikis
• Cons:
  • More likely to be wanted by someone else
• Comments:
  • Sounds like its a trade organisation - I'm not certain if this is a pro or a con. Thryduulf 12:19, 28 November 2005 (UTC)
  • Domain opencontent.org available
  • It is very descriptive, does not limit ourselves to wikis and, while a similar organisation may be set up in the future, I would have to wonder why the need for a second organisation is needed. To me, this would imply that we would not be doing our job in supporting all forms of Open Content correctly. Regardless it is relatively easy to change company names if neccesary (I used to work for a company that actually swapped its name with another company in the same group). If we did get this name I would suggest someone move to secure opencontent.org.uk ASAP though. MrWeeble 12:51, 28 November 2005 (UTC) (copied from talk page by Thryduulf 15:49, 28 November 2005 (UTC))

Free Content Organisation

• Pros:
  • As above
• Cons:
  • Less likely to be wanted by someone else
• Comments:
  • Domain freecontent.org.uk is available it seems - FrancisTyers 18:35, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

Free Knowledge Organisation

• Pros:
  • As above
• Cons:
  • Less likely to be wanted by someone else
• Comments:
  • Domain freeknowledge.org.uk is available it seems - FrancisTyers 18:35, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

Other names suggested at London meeting

• Wikipersonages - suggested by James
• Wikihorriblenamethatnoone'sgoingtonick (I think) - suggested by David
• Wikibankfucksodomy - suggested by.. yeah, you know who
  • no, no. Wikibankfucksodomylimitedgroupeducational. If there's any others we need to hit ...

This page is now preserved as an archive of the debate and is no longer 'live'. Please do not edit this page