WikiExperts

WikiExperts
Web address www.wikiexperts.us
Commercial Yes
Type of site
 Wikipedia Editing
Available in English
Owner Alex Konanykhin and Silvina Moschini
Launched 2010[1][2]
Current status active

WikiExperts is a web-based company founded by Alex Konanykhin[3] and Silvina Moschini in December 2010. It claims to be "the first comprehensive Wikipedia service for businesses, offering article writing, monitoring and repair services."[4] On October 17, 2013, the firm, its employees, and any related firms were banned from editing Wikipedia.[5]

As of 2013, the company employed 28 people.[6]

Company overview

WikiExperts is a company that offers services related to the website Wikipedia, including page editing, monitoring, and other forms of consultation related to the site for an hourly fee.[4][6] Founder Alex Konanykhin has stated that inaccuracies on Wikipedia are the result of a free labor-only business model, and that these inaccuracies are best solved by allowing editors to be paid. Wikipedia officials responded to Konanykhin's concerns by saying they were overblown.[7]

Soon after taking on its first English-language clients the company expanded to also focus on the Spanish-language and Latin American market.[8] Other languages the company has worked in include German, Italian, French, and Portuguese.[9] In May 2013 Moschini appeared on the Clix program on CNN en Español, where she further discussed WikiExperts and Wikipedia. She confirmed that WikiExperts does produce content directly for Wikipedia, insisting that all content is fully compliant with Wikipedia style and policies. She argued that while some notable subjects can make their way on to Wikipedia through voluntary routes, others require assistance to receive a presence on Wikipedia.[10] Moschini was also interviewed by CNN about the role of WikiExperts on Wikipedia, and discussed her view that paying editors on Wikipedia and other forms of commercialization is a natural step for the website.[11] Konanykhin has also been interviewed regarding his view of WikiExperts' role in Wikipedia, stating that Wikipedia affects the brand value and consumer perception of businesses. He has stated that WikiExperts exists to help manage that effect.[12]

Terms of Use and conflict of interest guideline

The work of the company is in violation of Wikipedia's Terms of Use, which state: "As part of these obligations, you must disclose your employer, client, and affiliation with respect to any contribution for which you receive, or expect to receive, compensation",[13] as well as the Wikipedia conflict of interest guideline, which discourages people from editing articles about people or organizations when they have any form of commercial relationship with the article's subject. The company has stated in response that it complies with Wikipedia policies and advises companies as to how they can edit Wikipedia or have Wikipedia edited according to its policies and guidelines, and that the articles produced by the company are written and edited objectively.[14][15] Konanykhin asserts that complying with Wikipedia's conflict of interest guidelines would expose his clients to discrimination and retaliation, even if they were otherwise compliant with Wikipedia's standards, and thus that to comply with the guidelines would be "unethical".

WikiExperts has called for a boycott of Wikipedia fundraising campaigns, "We believe that boycotting fundraising efforts of Wikipedia might compel it to raise billions via advertising and develop content of significantly better quality."[16]

References

  1. ↑ Staff. "Wikiexperts.us". DomainTools.com. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Staff. "Internet Archive for wikiexperts.us". Alexa Project. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  3. ↑ David Cohen (December 15, 2010), "WikiExperts.us Founder Urges Wikipedia to Embrace Ads", Adweek
  4. 1 2 "About Us". Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ See Community ban proposal for paid editing firm wikiexperts.us
  6. 1 2 Julieta Tarrés (November 2013), "Guardián de la Imagen" [Guardian of Image], Forbes Argentina
  7. ↑ "Wikipleadia: The promise and perils of crowdsourcing content". The Economist. January 13, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Lanzan un servicio para las empresas basado en Wikipedia". iProfesional. February 10, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  9. ↑ Cristina Martínez (2012). Wikipedia: Inteligencia colectiva en la red. Profit Editorial. p. 141.
  10. ↑ "Wikipedia: The Encyclopedia of Today". Clix on CNN en Español. May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ Moschini, Silvina (January 20, 2011). 10 años de Wikipedia [10 years of Wikipedia] (in Spanish). Interview with Juan Carlos López. CNN en Español USA Directo.
  12. ↑ Clarisa Herrera (October 3, 2013). "Wikipedia, a Major Threat to the Reputation of Businesses and Brands". Pulso Social. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  13. ↑ Wikimedia Foundation Terms of Use #4. Refraining from Certain Activities
  14. ↑ Silvina Moschini (January 11, 2012). "Biografías digitales, efectos reales". La Vanguardia. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  15. ↑ BLANCA SALVATIERRA (May 23, 2012). "Los expertos de pago reivindican un hueco en Wikipedia". Diario Público. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ MarketWatch (March 1, 2011). "Wikipedia Experts Call for No Donations to Wikipedia". Retrieved October 11, 2013. reprinted on wikiexperts.us

External links

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