> This section is quite broad, and is only modified by the somewhat vague > "Fair Use" section. Unfortunately, if taken literally, it would prevent
The "Fair Use" section has another problem btw when someone is looking at this. "Fair Use" has no meaning in most legal systems outside the USA. > I'm proposing this additional language (which is based on text in other > free software trademark policies) to be added in the same section, after > that paragraph: And that should be reviewed by someone experienced in trademark law. I'm sure some of the corporate members can help. I know how much fun Red Hat had trying to get the Fedora mark right. > > This requirement is waived in all contexts where such marks are not > > normally included, such as email, online discussion, package names, > > non-graphical advertisements (when permitted), and academic papers. > > We encourage the use of the symbol whenever possible, but recognize > > that many non-commercial and informal uses will omit it. This for example allows the use of "gnome" for packages which are not gnome packages or to advertise products that are nothing to do with Gnome using google adwords (eg buying the Gnome word and pointing it at xfce.org 8)). Careless, and why a lawyer should be involved in such work because once you've trashed your trademark it's near impossible to undo the damage. > We want to make sure that people can use GNOME software and talk about it > freely without unreasonable restrictions. The aim is to adopt this > amendment to the policy in two weeks if there are no objections. Public > discussion here about it would be great, and folks can contact me > privately too if they want to. This seems the wrong tack to me. Giving clear examples of fair use, and clear, tight ones so you don't make the package mistake would sort this out. Trademark requirements are quite specific and defining some examples would provide clarity and assurance surely ? It's really essential such changes go through lawyers. Sad the world works that way but in the case of trademark that's how it happens to be. Alan _______________________________________________ foundation-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-list
