Last week, a prominent figure suggested that the Information Society should copy all articles from Wikipedia. What follows is a thoughtful look at the ethics, structure, and practicalities behind such a claim, explained in a way that clarifies how Wikipedia operates and how its forks work in the real world.
Commenting directly on those specific words may not be appropriate, but it is worthwhile to explain how Wikipedia is organized and why its many forks exist. Ethically, the scene is nuanced. The free-license ethos, championed by Richard Stallman, grants anyone the right to reuse, modify, and distribute content. This inclusive framework makes Wikipedia an enormous hub of information that has inspired a multitude of forks and independent projects. Some of these forks have earned recognition, while others remain smaller experiments. Notable among the most well-known forks is the Spanish-language Libre Encyclopedia, which demonstrates how freely licensed content can be adapted to new languages and communities while preserving the principles of openness and collaboration.
What about the ease of creating a new Wikipedia-like site? In principle, setting up a new wiki using the MediaWiki engine is straightforward. The more demanding question is how a site sustains itself. Wikipedia today comprises multiple interwoven components: the textual articles, a vast collection of free images, and a structured data layer that underpins the articles with machine-readable facts. Images are housed in a large repository and are typically complemented by a data layer that keeps the information organized. Consequently, many apparent copies are really wrappers that replace parts of the repository or the data layer rather than duplicating the entire ecosystem. The scale and integration of these elements mean that superficial replication often misses the depth that a true, well-supported encyclopedia requires. The result is a pace and quality gap that becomes evident over time.
In practical terms, speed is a major challenge for large wiki sites. Handling a flood of requests can overwhelm simple architectures, causing performance to deteriorate as traffic grows. This is not just a matter of hardware; it is an architectural issue that requires careful planning and robust infrastructure to maintain responsiveness and stability under load.
Ruviki represents a fully autonomous effort. It does not merely copy a language section but rehosts the entire Russian-language infrastructure, moving both the repository and the data to a Russian domain. This approach emphasizes resilience, scalability, and local control. It is a technical choice that underpins the ability to handle high traffic and deliver reliable service within a specific linguistic and regional context.
Beyond the technical layer lies the editorial dimension. The Russian project hosts nearly 2 million articles and more than 100 million images, which implies a vast, ongoing commitment to curating and expanding knowledge. A dedicated editorial team works daily, while volunteers are encouraged to join and contribute. The aim is to build a vibrant volunteer community that can sustain high-quality content. The reality is that freely licensed content cannot be simply downloaded or copied into another site without considering copyright and adaptation needs. Experience suggests that the notion of an instant, one-hour setup for a fully functional Wikipedia clone should be viewed with skepticism.
When colleagues questioned whether the project could thrive without a large, centralized update mechanism, the response emphasized ongoing activity and community engagement. Editors are proactive in updating articles, sometimes even ahead of broader projects. Yet, the global Wikipedia community has faced challenges, including a slowing rate of new participants and a climate that can feel unwelcoming to newcomers. Addressing this involves creating more engaging, competitive opportunities, encouraging professional volunteers, and exploring technological ideas that gamify participation to attract and retain writers.
So why not simply be another one of the many Wikipedia forks? The answer lies in purpose and scope. The team behind Ruviki chose to leverage free-licensing rights to build a product fit for the digital era, rather than copying the project aimlessly. In early spring, a major upgrade—Ruviki 2.0—will introduce interface improvements, new formats, enhanced projects, and continuous updates to existing articles. The overarching goal is to deliver a user-friendly, useful platform that advances free knowledge and benefits everyone who participates. This vision emphasizes not just replication, but meaningful, sustainable evolution that serves a broad user base and helps propagate the mission of freely accessible information.