Re: Discussion about a way forward Was: Re: Wikipedia at 25: A Wake-Up Call (essay)

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Hello Illario,
Quickly replying to these points about the 'Enterprise' API project since
it's pertinent to your message - but not wanting to derail from the
substantive purpose of this email thread. For any followup, please come to
the project talkpage.[1]

My reply comments inline:
On Sun, 5 Jul 2026 at 18:02, Ilario valdelli via Wikimedia-l <
[email protected]> wrote:

> First, a request for whoever works on revenue. The essay proposes
> expanding Enterprise into verification services that AI companies would pay
> for.
>
When the essay was originally published, Christophe, my colleagues and I
met to discuss his proposal. We hope to continue these conversations during
Wikimania in both the main program and side-events. Anyone also attending
this year: please come and say hello!

> Enterprise has existed since 2021. Revenue in FY 2023-24 was 3.4M USD,
> about 1.8% of Foundation revenue; the figure comes from Christophe's own
> footnotes.
>
Since then, there was another annual financial report covering FY 24-25. It
reported 8.3M USD, about 4%.[2] The FY 25-26 period has only just concluded
by the project's annual report will be published later this year
(coinciding with the WMF audit report). Nevertheless, the FY 26-27 Annual
Plan calls for $18.5M in annual contracts.[3]

> Five years, in the middle of the largest spending boom on data this
> industry has ever seen, and the buyer has not shown up.
>
While some will certainly say that the above numbers are 'too much' and
some will say it is 'too little'. We have indeed announced many new
partners.[4]

> I am not saying the thesis is wrong. I am saying the numbers we already
> have contradict it, and understanding why should be the first task of that
> group, before any plan to scale.
>
Importantly, the above numbers and targets are demonstrating steady,
sensible growth. The point has always been about sustainable
diversification and NOT maximisation of revenue. Much of that 'spending
boom' you refer to *one-time* licensing deals (or lawsuits) for publishers.
but as we know, Wikimedia content is already freely licensed. You can see
the project principles that reiterate the adherence to F/LOSS (and also
that there would only ever be a maximum of 30% WMF revenue from commercial
sources) here.[5]

Is the product underinvested? Is the price of something that is also
> legally free bound to stay near zero? Is the demand somewhere we have not
> looked? I don't know, and I would distrust anyone who answers too quickly.

I also want to highlight the quarterly product updates[6] and in particular
the recent(ish) news that Wikidata is now available in this API platform[7]
and that the extent of what can be obtained for free via it has been
massively increased.[8] This refers back to the Principles that the
*content* and features is the same for everyone - including free access -
and there is also now an "exceptional access" request process for
mission-aligned usecases that require high-volume/speed.[5]
As above - this is all about ensuring a sustainable approach. The money
follows the mission, not the other way around.

>
Liam Wyatt
[note: although I'm writing this from my gmail account - which is the
easiest because it has been subscribed here for many years - for the
avoidance of doubt, this email is on behalf of my [email protected] role
at the WMF as Tech Partnerships and community advocacy for the Enterprise
team. Thank you.]


[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Enterprise
[2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise#Governance
[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/FY26-27
[4] https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/tag/partner/
[5] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/Principles
[6] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/Updates
[7]
https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/wikidata-api-endpoints-wikimedia-enterprise/
[8] https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/enhanced-free-api/

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>Hello Illario,=C2=A0<br>Quickly replying to these poi=
nts about the &#39;Enterprise&#39; API project since it&#39;s pertinent to =
your message - but not wanting to derail from the substantive purpose of th=
is email thread. For any followup, please come to the project talkpage.[1]<=
/div><div><br></div><div><span style=3D"background-color:transparent">My re=
ply comments inline:</span></div><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_cont=
ainer"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Sun, 5 Jul 2026 at 18:02, I=
lario valdelli via Wikimedia-l &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:wikimedia-l-RusutVdil2iUmLTBS4g/[email protected]=
media.org">[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:</div><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px sol=
id rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><p>
      First, a request for whoever works on revenue. The essay proposes
      expanding Enterprise into verification services that AI companies
      would pay for. </p></div></blockquote><div><span style=3D"background-=
color:transparent">When the essay was originally published, Christophe, my =
colleagues and I met to discuss his proposal. We hope to continue these con=
versations during Wikimania in both the main program and side-events. Anyon=
e also attending this year: please come and say hello!</span></div><blockqu=
ote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px=
 solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><p>Enterprise has existed si=
nce 2021. Revenue in FY
      2023-24 was 3.4M USD, about 1.8% of Foundation revenue; the figure
      comes from Christophe&#39;s own footnotes. </p></div></blockquote><di=
v>Since then, there was another annual financial report covering FY 24-25. =
It reported 8.3M USD, about 4%.[2] The FY 25-26 period has only just conclu=
ded by the project&#39;s annual report will be published later this year (c=
oinciding with the WMF audit report). Nevertheless, the FY 26-27 Annual Pla=
n calls for $18.5M in annual contracts.[3]=C2=A0<br></div><blockquote class=
=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rg=
b(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><p>Five years, in the middle
      of the largest spending boom on data this industry has ever seen,
      and the buyer has not shown up.=C2=A0</p></div></blockquote><div><spa=
n style=3D"background-color:transparent">While some will certainly say that=
 the above numbers are &#39;too much&#39; and some will say it is &#39;too =
little&#39;. We have indeed announced many new partners.[4]</span><span sty=
le=3D"background-color:transparent">=C2=A0</span><span style=3D"background-=
color:transparent">=C2=A0</span></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" sty=
le=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);paddi=
ng-left:1ex"><div><p><span style=3D"background-color:transparent">I am not =
saying the thesis is
      wrong. I am saying the numbers we already have contradict it, and
      understanding why should be the first task of that group, before
      any plan to scale.=C2=A0</span></p></div></blockquote><div>Importantl=
y, the above numbers and targets are demonstrating steady, sensible growth.=
 The point has always been about sustainable diversification and NOT maximi=
sation of revenue. Much of that &#39;spending boom&#39; you refer=C2=A0to *=
one-time* licensing deals (or lawsuits) for publishers. but as we know, Wik=
imedia content is already freely licensed. You can see the project principl=
es that reiterate the adherence to F/LOSS (and also that there would only e=
ver be a maximum of 30% WMF revenue from commercial sources) here.[5]=C2=A0=
</div><div><br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px =
0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Is t=
he product underinvested? Is the price of something that is also legally fr=
ee bound to stay near zero? Is the demand somewhere we have not looked? I d=
on&#39;t know, and I would distrust anyone who answers too quickly.</blockq=
uote><div>I also want to highlight the quarterly product updates[6] and in =
particular the recent(ish) news that Wikidata is now available in this API =
platform[7] and that the extent of what can be obtained for free via it has=
 been massively increased.[8] This refers back to the Principles that the *=
content* and features is the same for everyone - including free access - an=
d there is also now an &quot;exceptional access&quot; request process for m=
ission-aligned usecases that require high-volume/speed.<span style=3D"backg=
round-color:transparent">[5]=C2=A0</span></div><div><span style=3D"backgrou=
nd-color:transparent">As above - this is all about ensuring a sustainable a=
pproach. The money follows the mission, not the other way around.</span></d=
iv><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;bord=
er-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div></div></blockquot=
e><div>=C2=A0<span style=3D"background-color:transparent">=C2=A0</span></di=
v><div>Liam Wyatt</div><div>[note: a<span style=3D"background-color:transpa=
rent">lthough I&#39;m writing this from my gmail account - which is the eas=
iest because it has been subscribed here for many years - for the avoidance=
 of doubt, this email is on behalf of my=C2=A0</span><a href=3D"mailto:lwya=
[email protected]">[email protected]</a><span style=3D"background-color:t=
ransparent">=C2=A0role at the WMF as Tech Partnerships and community advoca=
cy for the Enterprise team. Thank you.]=C2=A0<br></span><br class=3D"gmail-=
Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><div>[1]=C2=A0<a href=3D"ht=
tps://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Enterprise">https://meta.wikim=
edia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Enterprise</a>=C2=A0</div><div>[2]=C2=A0<a hre=
f=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise#Governance">https=
://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise#Governance</a></div><div>[3=
]=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/FY26=
-27">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/FY26-27</a></div>=
<div>[4]=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/tag/partner/=
">https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/tag/partner/</a></div><div>[5]=C2=
=A0<a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/Principl=
es">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/Principles</a></di=
v><div>[6]=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterpr=
ise/Updates">https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Enterprise/Updates</a=
></div><div>[7]=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/wikid=
ata-api-endpoints-wikimedia-enterprise/">https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/b=
log/wikidata-api-endpoints-wikimedia-enterprise/</a></div><div>[8]=C2=A0<a =
href=3D"https://enterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/enhanced-free-api/">https://e=
nterprise.wikimedia.com/blog/enhanced-free-api/</a></div></div></div>

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