In the end, the court rejected Wikimedia’s arguments.
But Phil Bradley-Schmieg, Lead Counsel at the Wikimedia Foundation, said the judgment did not give Ofcom and the Secretary of State, in Mr Justice Johnson’s words, “a green light to implement a regime that would significantly impede Wikipedia’s operations”.
And the judgement makes it clear other legal challenges could be possible.
Wikimedia could potentially challenge Ofcom’s decision making if the regulator did ultimately decide to classify the site as Category 1.
And if the effect of making Wikipedia Category 1 meant it could not continue to operate, then other legal challenges could follow.
“Wikipedia has been caught in the stricter regulations due to its size and user created content even though it argues (convincingly) that it differs significantly from other user-to-user platforms,” said Mona Schroedel, data protection litigation specialist at law firm Freeths.
“The court’s decision has left the door open for Wikipedia to be exempt from the stricter rules upon review.”
The communications regulator Ofcom, which will enforce the act, told the BBC: “We note the court’s judgment and will continue to progress our work in relation to categorised services and the associated extra online safety rules for those companies.”