On Jan 26, 6:50 am, John Hasler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > mike3 writes: > > Why can't GNU systems, BSD systems, etc. be called "unix systems" in > > everyday conversational language? > > They can. > > > How does The Open Group's ownership of the UNIX(R) trademark trample on > > our ability to use "unix systems" in everyday conversational English? > > It doesn't. A trademark owner has no power to limit use of his mark in > everyday conversation. > > > Is the US Government, and perhaps those of other countries, (maybe even > > international treaty!) actually capable of regulating the language like > > that? > > The US government is not. I can't say about others. > > > I, personally, do not think a government should be able to control the > > language in this way. > > The US government can't (and doesn't try). > > > ...trademarking has to do, or at least _should_ have to do, with the > > names one markets a product under... > > It does. > > > ...not what names we should choose to use to refer to something in our > > everyday speech. > > It doesn't.
Hmm. So then what is the point of contrivances like "Unix-like", "*nix", "UN*X", "*n*x", etc. that are used all over in discussion boards like this one, even though those discussions are often not for advertising or marketing a product? _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
