China's Answer to Wikipedia

Baidu's Censored Answer to Wikipedia - While Wikipedia, and especially its Chinese version, has been blocked from access in China almost continuously since 2006, the Chinese Internet search engine operator Baidu has developed its own collaborative online encyclopedia, the Baidu Baike. Critics have pointed out that Baidu Baike contains copyright violations, requires editors to register, moderates all contributions, and is censored in accordance with government sensitivities. Jimbo Wales has said that Wikipedia does not plan to take legal action against plagiarism of Wikipedia by Baidu. The success of Baidu Baike offers a glimpse of the situation facing Internet service companies operating in China: if they do not co-operate with the government, there are plenty of local companies which are willing to do so.

Dutch Justice Ministry bans employee access to Wikipedia

Dutch Justice Ministry blocks employees from using Wikipedia - The Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands has blocked its employees from accessing Wikipedia. The move follows a report by the magazine Intermediar which revealed that, based on IP address information, more than 800 entries had been edited from the ministry's computers. While some of the edits have been harmless, the ministry is concerned about employees making edits that are "tasteless or worse during working hours". The ministry imposed the temporary block on its 30,000 employees while its internal policies are reviewed.

Other mentions in the news

Other recent mentions of Wikipedia in the news include:

• Librarian: 'Just say no to Wikipedia' - A middle school librarian in New Jersey has adopted the slogan "just say no" to discourage students from relying on Wikipedia for research.
• Encyclopedist’s Lair - Jimmy Wales tells the New York Times about his favourite possessions, travels, and Tajik hats.
• Hill leaving post as Davis press secretary - Following controversy over partisan Wikipedia edits in articles relating to his employer, Timothy Hill, the press secretary of US Representative David Davis, has resigned from his position.
• Web 2.0 gives power to the people - Jimmy Wales says that Web 2.0, a concept which includes successful web innovations such as Wikipedia, is an efficient way to drive innovation that can also benefit corporations.