On 01/17/2012 08:12 PM, Erik Christiansen wrote: > On 17.01.12 21:31, Jack Coats wrote: >> IMHO, we need to keep references to EMC and EMC2 on the web site as >> 'historical artifacts', and also reference the NIST project that >> started the initial 'Enhanced Machine Controller' project and named >> it. Like in http://www.isd.mel.nist.gov/projects/rcslib/emc_links.html >> >> It will also allow links from around the internet and search engines >> to still logically link back to LinuxCNC in the future. >> >> I doubt EMC Corp would have issue with that, since it is for >> 'educational and historical' purposes. > > <IANAL> > It seems unimaginable that even under perverse American law, one > corporation can own all rights to every use of an abbreviation. > In most countries, it is sufficient for the activities of the separate > users to be significantly distinguishable for courts to dismiss a > litigant's claim to be the only one on the planet with the name "Bob". > > If our current full name conflicted, then there would be grounds for > discussion, but coincidence of abbreviation (EMC) is no ground for > complaint. And both parties have adapted Albert's little equation, so > neither can claim originality or exclusivity there. > > That said, the board's decision is the board's to make, and it avoids > distractions other than whether or not to make any changes in the wiki. > If we place on the home page "LinuxCNC was historically known as EMC2", > then the job's done, innit? > </IANAL> > > As always, genuine thanks for all the work done on our behalf. > > Erik >
I join this opinion based on the facts that this (EMC2) project has a long history under its current name. It's ridiculous to see a not exceptionally successful company (http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=EMC) terrorize nonprofit organization especially when the product has absolutely nothing to do with their core business. My feeling is that their lawyers have nothing else to do, like protect employees of their spinoff VMware etc. Quick search for EMC2 on Google brings LinuxCNC.org in the third place. That's due to the fact that EMC Corp is advertising on the top. Google also delivers other links that one would expect to be more "offensive" to EMC Corp lawyers than LinuxCNC open source product. http://www.emc2.com/ http://www.emc2fusion.org/ http://emc-squared.net/ http://www.aimprogram.com/ http://www.emc-sq.com http://www.emc2architects.com/ http://www.emctwo.com/ http://www.emcsquared.com/ http://www.emc2acne.com/ http://www.emc2interiors.com/ http://emc2payouts.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/EMC2/174903925885899?v=info Other (Google) Searches related to emc2: emc2 cnc software linux emc2 e=mc2 emc2 wiki emc2 engineering emc2 fusion emc2 architects emc2 bikes so EMC2 CNC software comes up twice in this section alone. Fact: search for "emc2" returns more links related to LinuxCNC EMC2 on the first 3 pages than EMC company. I respect LinuxCNC board decision but wonder about EMC legal department. My guess is that generic search for their products turns up little or nothing and they want more "free advertising". http://www.emc.com/about/investor-relations/faqs.htm Q: What does "EMC" stand for? A: The founders of EMC are Richard Egan and Roger Marino, the "E" and "M" behind the naming of EMC. "EMC Corporation" is the Company's full name. So they were sitting on the fact, and did nothing, all these years that a nonprofit org openly used EMC2 (Enhanced Machine Controller 2) for the project name. There is statue of limitation somewhere, even in the US law one would think. Perhaps they need some http://www.emcpic.info Imagine how many links are going to be broken if LinuxCNC wiki page changes every instance of EMC2? That's censorship IMO and I'm against it. -- Rafael ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
