Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Innovations:Wikimedia Marker

🎯 In 20 seconds (scientific summary): We are heading towards transparent attribution systems in cooperative platforms. This hypothesis proposes that explicit markers linking governance elements to their Wikimedia origins strengthen institutional legitimacy. The emerging trend suggests variable-based nomenclature may supersede static attribution models as platforms evolve beyond encyclopedic constraints.

💡 In simple words: A little blue tag shows when an idea on WikiDeal came from Wikipedia's way of doing things, so everyone knows where good ideas come from.

On this page:

• Wikimedia Marker (WM-XX)
• State of the art

Wikimedia Marker (WM-XX)

Innovation, WikiDeal R&D

Origin	🟢 WikiDeal concept
Status	Prototype 1, In testing

What is it?

The Wikimedia Marker (WM-XX) is a blue graphical nomenclature that flags elements directly inspired by Wikimedia Foundation practices. It provides visual attribution and traceability, for example WM-01 (User Groups), WM-02 (Open Call), and WM-03 (ArbCom), so readers can see which parts of WikiDeal build on Wikimedia's heritage.

How it works on WikiDeal

Each marked element receives a WM code that links it back to its Wikimedia inspiration, making the lineage explicit and honest. This reinforces WikiDeal's culture of transparent attribution. The full marker registry is documented progressively as the platform evolves.

Reframing around variables

The markers are being reframed around variables: an encyclopedic article has no modifiable dates and no optional clauses, while a contract does. These variables are among the technological additions WikiDeal aims at bringing beyond the encyclopedic model. The term Marker is kept. This reframing is under discussion and may evolve.

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State of the art

Documenting which elements are inspired by Wikimedia practices relies on the literature that describes those practices, and on the older idea of pattern languages for reusable design knowledge.

• Joseph M. Reagle (2010), Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Wikipedia, MIT Press: free full text · book page on Wikipedia.
• Phoebe Ayers, Charles Matthews and Ben Yates (2008), How Wikipedia Works: And How You Can Be a Part of It, No Starch Press: book page on Wikipedia.
• Fernanda B. Viégas, Martin Wattenberg and Matthew M. McKeon (2007), The Hidden Order of Wikipedia, Online Communities and Social Computing (HCI International 2007): doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73257-0_49.
• Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein (1977), A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction, Oxford University Press, the origin of pattern languages for documenting reusable practices: book page on Wikipedia.
• Wikipedia's own codified practice, the primary documented source: Five pillars, official page.

See also: All innovations · R&D Portal