Wikimedia vs LDS church

[tubaloth]

Wikimedia Foundation receives copyright infringement claim from Mormon Church - Wikinews, the free news source

I hadn't seen this until today! (I'm guessing it doesn't get a lot of press).

The basics is pages from the Church handbook of Instructions were on some web pages. The church had those taken down. But during that time Wiki got the same information, but refuses to take it down.

I'm actually kind of surprised that this wiki company is taking the stand it is. Its almost like it feels like it has to show this to the public?

If this was any other "MAJOR" church this would have been taking down.

If this information about people, then it also would have been taken down.

Why are they beyond the laws? (I more posted this, just incase a search engine picks it up.)

[Moksha]

So, is there something within the 1998 Church Handbook of Instructions that could pose an embarrassment to the Church?

[prisonchaplain]

I side with the Church on this one. There are manuals in most agencies that offer leaders "best practices" guidance. These documents are internal, and they are not official policy. Since the documents are a private resource, and not binding regulations, the privacy and copyright protections should be honored.

[Hemidakota]

So much for the Wiki god or the gospel according to wiki.

[utcowboy]

If they are allowed to continue to publish copyrighted material of the church then who else can they publish?? As the lawyers said on the local news in Utah, If one copyright is violated whats to stop them from publishing "Harry Potter" or "Narnia" or anything else?

[Guest Xzain]

From the article:

"WikiLeaks will not remove the handbooks, which are of substantial interest to current and former Mormons. WikiLeaks will remain a place where people from around the world can safely reveal the truth."

The acrid tinge of sensationalistim burns my nostrils.

I too side with the Church- while critics are quick to say "WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE?!?!?!?!?!" a cursory thought about the matter shows that there are legitimate reasons for an institution that deals with large amounts of money would not want their general handbook (that deals with said issues) posted all over the internet.

[WillowTheWhisp]

I don't think they could be trying to hide anything as the handbook is available online on the church website isn't it? Perhaps a link to that rather than a copyright violation would have been the correct way to go.