This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Ca (talk | contribs) at 17:27, 18 December 2024 (ce). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.
Revision as of 17:27, 18 December 2024 by Ca (talk | contribs) (ce)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Wikimedia policy page prohibiting legal threats"WP:LEGAL" redirects here. You may be looking for other uses at Misplaced Pages:Legal disclaimer, Misplaced Pages:Legal (disambiguation) or the Wikimedia Foundation's legal contact page. For the WikiProject about law and other legal topics, see Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Law. "WP:THREAT" redirects here. You may be looking for Misplaced Pages:Responding to threats of harm or Misplaced Pages:Arguments to avoid in edit wars § Threats and intimidation (shortcut WP:THREATEN). For existential threats to Misplaced Pages, see Misplaced Pages:Threats to Misplaced Pages.
 | This page documents a Misplaced Pages policy with legal considerations. | Shortcuts |
 | This page in a nutshell: If you post a legal threat on Misplaced Pages, you are likely to be blocked indefinitely. A polite report of a legal problem, such as defamation or copyright infringement, is not a threat and will be acted on quickly. |
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Do not post legal threats on Misplaced Pages. A legal threat, in this context, is a threat to engage in an off-wiki ("real life") legal or other governmental process that would target other editors or Misplaced Pages itself. It does not refer to any dispute-resolution process within Misplaced Pages. Legal threats should be reported to Misplaced Pages:Administrators' noticeboard/Incidents or elsewhere to an administrator. Users who post legal threats are typically blocked while the threats are outstanding.
Instead of making legal threats, consider using one of Misplaced Pages's dispute resolution procedures. If your issue involves Misplaced Pages itself, contact the Wikimedia Foundation.
The existence of a legal dispute between users, whether as a result of incidents on Misplaced Pages or elsewhere, is not a valid reason to block, as long as no legal threats are made on Misplaced Pages. Editors involved in a legal dispute should not edit articles about parties to the dispute, given the potential conflict of interest.
What is not a legal threat
Copyright
Complaints of copyright infringement is not a legal threat. If you are the owner of copyrighted material that has been added to Misplaced Pages, a statement about whether it is licensed for such use is welcome. You may contact the information team or the Wikimedia Foundation's designated agent, or use the procedures at Misplaced Pages:Copyright problems.
Defamation
Further information: Misplaced Pages:LibelA discussion as to whether material is libelous is not a legal threat. The policy on defamation is to delete libel as soon as it is identified. If you believe that you are the subject of a libelous statement, email info-en-q
wikipedia.org.
Conflict of interest
Further information: Misplaced Pages:Paid-contribution disclosure and Misplaced Pages:Conflict of interest § covertMaking paid editors aware of the requirements of the Wikimedia Foundation's terms of use, or laws against undisclosed advertising, is not a legal threat.
Perceived legal threats
Always choose your words carefully when starting or responding to any discussions or disputes, as well as with any messages or communication with other users; you must refrain from making any comments that other editors may translate or interpret (even incorrectly) as legal threats. For example, if you assert that another editor's comments are "defamatory" or "libelous", that editor might interpret your communication as implying such a threat. Use less charged wording, such as "that statement about me is not true, and I ask that it be corrected."
Rationale
Posting legal threats is uncivil behavior that causes a number of problems:
- It inhibits free editing, risking one side of a dispute intimidating the other and causing a systemic bias.
- It creates bad feelings and lack of trust, making it difficult to assume good faith.
Using the dispute resolution process will often lead to a positive solution without resorting to making legal threats or engaging in other unacceptable behavior.
Conclusion of legal threat
The Misplaced Pages community has a long-standing principle that people can change: statements made in anger or misjudgment should not be held against once withdrawn.
The aim is to prevent legal threats, not to keep bad content from being fixed. Editors should encourage the aggrieved user to identify errors in the article; a link to Misplaced Pages:Contact us/Article problem/Factual error (from subject) may be appropriate.
A user threatening a legal action on their talk page is limited in disruption. They should not be prevented from using their talk page until attempts have been made to open a civil discussion. Persistent or vexatious complaints may still lead to a ban.
See also
- Misplaced Pages:Wikilawyering
- Misplaced Pages:Don't overlook legal threats
- Misplaced Pages:Hyperlinks as evidence in litigation
- Misplaced Pages:Zero tolerance
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