Wikipedia backers are infuriated by an attempt by Microsoft to correct errors in the online encyclopedia.

The controversy revolves around an entry on Microsoft's OpenXML document format, which ODF fans accuse of lacking in openness (as well as being... well... Microsoft's).

Well aware of Wikipedia etiquette, Microsoft decided not to go in and make changes itself. That's a clear inflict of interest.  Instead it asked a well respected developer to have a close look at the entry and suggest changes to the Wikipedia community.

24 Jan 2007

The developer agreed to take on the job, and even disclosed on his blog that Microsoft paid him to do so. And that's when all hell broke loose.

While the encyclopedia has a legitimate worry about spam and inaccurate information, it has swung to the other extreme by preventing stakeholders to correct obvious inaccuracies.

Never mind that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in the past has been caught editing entries to increase the credit to his efforts while deleting those of former partners. Adding inaccurate information, in Wikipedia's eyes is just as bad as some people correcting it.