Wikipedia co-founder accused of editing entry for donation

London, Mar 12 (UNI) Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, has been accused of offering to edit an entry on the online encyclopaedia site in return for a donation.

A former computer scientist at Novell, Jeff Merkey, claimed Mr Wales proposed in 2006 that in exchange for a substantial donation from him, the co-founder would edit his uncomplimentary Wikipedia entry and make it more complimentary.

Mr Merkey claimed he made a 5000 dollar donation in 2006 and the edit history for his Wikipedia entry showed that around the same time, changes were made to it after it had been wiped out completely before editors were allegedly ordered to start all over again.

Mr Merkey's allegations were published in a statement on a Wikipedia mailing list, on which Mr Wales called the allegations ''nonsense''.

On the list, Mr Wales said he would ''never offer, nor accept any offer, whereby a donation would buy someone special editorial treatment in the encyclopaedia,'' the Daily Telegraph reported.

Jay Walsh, a spokesman for Wikipedia, said it was an ''absolutely false allegation''.

''Jimmy never made this offer, and of course this is a practice the Wikipedia Foundation would never condone,'' he said.

Mr Wales was accused last week by a former Wikipedia executive of improperly using the non-profit organisation's funds for his own lavish recreation.

UNI XC SKB RS1554