Hi Dennis, Thanks for replying, comments below:
On Dec 29, 2011, at 12:13 PM, Dennis E. Hamilton wrote: > > (2) for a conforming implementation of a type that is defined by an Apache > project This is the situation that the OODT PushPull plugins fall into. > > This is no different than if the namespace is java.* or com.microsoft.*, etc. > It is not for an external project to improve or extend. You might have more > luck with gov.nasa.jpl.* but not without permission, aye? The plugins were gov.nasa.jpl.* before so that's fine, and they existed that way for years before we brought the code to Apache (when all the OODT code was gov.nasa.jpl*). Now it's org.apache.oodt and I want to show association with that namespace (and with Apache) by using it at Apache Extras. It *is* simple and clear cut. > > While there is probably next-to-nothing in the specifications (i.e., section > 7.7 of the Java Specification, 3rd edition) for namespaces that deals with > authority and authoritative use, using one that has a domain over which I am > not the authority seems toxic and certainly abusive of an important de facto > protocol. Technically, making definitions in another's namespace structure > violates the notion of distributed authority and assurance of unique, > non-colliding identifiers. The ComDev PMC chair has claimed authority over Apache Extras. That's why I'm proposing 2 concrete suggestions (please see my previous email) that would both remedy my situation and I think also fall within maintaining ASF marks which as a member of the ASF I am keenly interested in protecting as well. I also know that the ASF doesn't like centralized authority and thus delegates many of these decisions (even the policing of trademarks themselves) to the PMCs. I am proposing that my suggestions both (a) keep the decisions/policing of these types of situations at Extras in control of the PMCs; and (b) updates the FAQ/docs in ComDev land to provide the guidance to folks in the future. > > That ASF experts here see it as a trademark issue is sufficient cautioning, > I'd say. I'm a member of the ASF and don't see this as a trademark issue. That's why I'm questioning it. Cheers, Chris ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Chris Mattmann, Ph.D. Senior Computer Scientist NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, CA 91109 USA Office: 171-266B, Mailstop: 171-246 Email: chris.a.mattm...@nasa.gov WWW: http://sunset.usc.edu/~mattmann/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Adjunct Assistant Professor, Computer Science Department University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
