The GerÂman pubÂlishÂer BerÂtelsÂmann announced that it will pubÂlish annuÂalÂly a 1,000 page ediÂtion of Wikipedia startÂing next SepÂtemÂber. To be called “The One-VolÂume Wikipedia EncyÂcloÂpeÂdia,” it will sell for 19.95 euros (or roughÂly $32 U.S.) and feaÂture some of the most popÂuÂlar artiÂcles from the GerÂman verÂsion of Wikipedia. One euro per copy will go back to WikiÂmeÂdia, which runs Wikipedia. But nothÂing, as ReadÂwriteweb notes, will go to the writÂers who actuÂalÂly creÂate the encyÂcloÂpeÂdia entries.
Because Wikipedia is pubÂlished under a free license, its conÂtent can be freely used and comÂmerÂcialÂized. And that’s preÂciseÂly what BerÂtelsÂmann plans to do. In Wikipedia, BerÂtelsÂmann has found a mothÂerÂlode of free conÂtent it. It can then monÂeÂtize that conÂtent, keep most of the profÂits (a pubÂlishÂer’s dream), and kick 5% back to WikiÂmeÂdia, most likeÂly as a way to underÂcut the critÂics. It’s all perÂhaps legal. But does it feel a bit unseemÂly? Just a touch. Or maybe you disÂagree?