"The Citizendium will begin by 'mirroring' Wikipedia's content, which its license, the GNU Free Documentation License, permits. Contributors will then be able to edit articles under the new system," according to the statement. Ultimately, the Web site intends to produce better content or replace the Wikipedia-sourced content, it said.

The pilot project for authors and editors will be invitation-only and will launch soon but may not be viewed by the public. Invitations to apply are on the Citizendium Web site. After initial work, the project will be opened to public view and to contributions by anyone who supplies his real name, a working e-mail address and a statement of commitment to the Citizendium's "social contract," or basic policies, according to the statement.