The online encyclopedia Wikipedia has suffered some damage since its conception. Wikipedia is a free online site where individuals can post their articles and read the information supplied. Hoaxsters, inaccurate information, and vandalism have become problems at the site. A team of editors do go through the articles to determine which are accurate and what articles may need sources to back them up. Jimmy Wales, the founder of the encyclopedia told CNET that the Germans have offered to help save Wikipedia from the vultures.
The Germans are offering a system in which the user can still edit any article; however, the changes are not going to appear in the live version of the site until the registered user has a certain clout level. They have to show experience in the information they provide before the changes will be shown to the public.
The system is designed to prevent hoaxsters and underage individuals from vandalizing the articles. It is thought that the new feature will probably not deter the most committed of individuals to vandalizing the site, but it should lessen the issues that are currently on going at Wikipedia.
Part of the decision to change the operation of Wikipedia came from a German court decision about a publication. The site stated that anyone could edit the site information, therefore they were not responsible. The court decided Wikipedia had to take more responsibility for the publications, especially with worldwide interest in it. The changes may not correct all the problems, but it does seem that the Germans have a good concept.