Wikimedia Foundation Annual Plan/2017-2018/Draft/Non-Programs/Legal
About Legal
editThe Wikimedia Foundation legal team oversees the global legal portfolio for Wikipedia and its associated projects. Our goal is to support the Foundation and the communities of contributors – consistent with our legal ethics – in their mission to share free information worldwide. We aggressively and globally steward the values of our mission and our community of writers, editors, photographers, and other contributors by building and overseeing governance where appropriate; by protecting and defending those key values when challenged; and by facilitating initiatives designed to support and grow our communities and their various projects, including Wikipedia and its sister Wikimedia projects.
Part of our budget and work focuses on core legal services for the Foundation. These services include, for example, contracts negotiation and review, employment and immigration law support, Board support, fundraising compliance, training, general internal legal advice, and product and tech support. We address these core services in this section on Legal Non-Programmatic Work.
A large part of our budget and work is devoted to programmatic services where we work globally to support the Wikimedia communities to achieve their mission on different fronts. See Department Programs Legal section for more information.
Non-Program 1: Training
editTeam: Legal, Teams Receiving Training
Time frame: 12 months
Summary
editProvide training on legal and policy topics to Foundation teams as needed. This program supports fundamental WMF operations ranging from contracts processing to education in copyright and data protection.
Goal
editProvide skills for WMF employees and contractors to effectively navigate legal and policy issues that affect their work and empower them to work effectively with the Wikimedia communities
Outcome and objective
edit- Outcome 1: WMF employees and contractors have the legal knowledge they need to effectively do their jobs
- Objective 1: Monitor trainings and ensure that organization needs are being met
Non-Program 2: Board support
editTeam: Legal, Executive Director, Board
Time frame: 12 months
Summary
editThe General Counsel serves as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and together with other members of the legal team, supports the Board in the fulfillment of its duties.
Non-Program 3: Copyright clearance
editTeam: Legal, Teams Supported
Time frame: 12 months
Summary
editReview materials used for Wikimedia Foundation promotional efforts such as videos, presentations, and donor pamphlets to ensure compliance with copyright law and consistency with movement values.
Goal
editProvide timely, accurate advice on desired materials to ensure that Foundation-produced media is legally compliant and in line with movement values
Outcome and objective
edit- Outcome 1: Legally compliant media produced
- Objective 1: Provide timely, clear, and helpful advice on the copyrighted works used in Foundation media
Non-Program 4: General Legal Advice & Support
editTeam: Legal, Teams Supported
Time frame: 12 months
Summary
editThe legal team provides general legal advice and support to all departments throughout the year to ensure legal compliance, best practices, and risk mitigation
Goal
editProvide timely, innovative, and effective legal advice and support to all departments as needed on all subject areas, including, but not limited to licensing, product counseling, grantmaking, patents, governance, and contracts
Outcome and objective
edit- Outcome 1: Organizational legal compliance, best practices, and risk mitigation achieved
- Objective 1: Provide timely, innovative, and effective legal advice and support to all departments as needed