Somehow I think people are getting a bit precious over this. I am going to side with RedHat.
Redhat admit that they have no problem in people distributing the software. What they object to is people distributing software and calling it RedHat. For all they know, the cd's distributed under the name RedHat may have content that differs from the official RedHat distributions. Someone could download Redhat 9, make some minor changes and redistribute it, still under the name RedHat. The resultant distribution may be a load of sh#t. (this is not an invitation for people to say that the orignial rh 9 is anyway). Redhat have a legitimate right to control what software is distributed under their name. Guy Steven Wanaka Law P O Box 161 Wanaka Ph +64 03 443 8286, fax +64 03 4438779 Principal: Chris Steven. > -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Greenwood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, 2 July 2003 2:08 p.m. > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: areeee redhat is turning into M$!!! > > > This is yet another reason NOT to use or recommend RH. I'm > serious. This > is apart from my extreme distaste for the distro anyway. They are > beginning to remind of a little software company in Redmond > (not Lindows). > > I would pull them off my site quick smart. > > Cheers > > Jason > > PS, or you could just say screwem and relocate your > website/domain etc. > to a country outside the US (and any place friendly to them), though > this may not be a long term solution either. > > Nick Rout wrote: > > >unbelievable > > > >are we allowed to still use "powered by redhat" logos on web pages? > > > >On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 13:24:42 +1200 (NZST) > >Mahesh De Silva <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > >>This also has implecations for using "red hat" at our > >>install fests!! > >> > >> > >> > >>Dear Sir/Madam: > >> > >>I am writing on behalf of Red Hat, Inc. with respect > >>to its trademark > >>matters. > >> > >>Red Hat, Inc. is the owner of several trademark > >>registrations in the > >>United States and in foreign countries for the mark > >>RED HAT. In > >>addition, Red Hat, Inc. has made extensive use of its > >>trademarks in > >>interstate and international commerce in connection > >>with the > >>advertising, promotion, and sale of its Internet and > >>computer-related > >>goods and services. The RED HAT mark has become very > >>famous and many > >>consumers recognize this mark as a distinctive symbol > >>of our goodwill. > >>We would like to direct you to a link which provides > >>details of our > >>trademark guidelines for your reference: > >> > >>http://www.redhat.com/about/corporate/trademark > >> > >>It has come to our attention that you are offering for > >>sale computer > >>software under the name RED HAT trademark on your > >>commercial website > >>located at www.xsolutions.co.nz. In addition, you have > >>imbedded our > >>trademarks within your metatags in violation of > >>trademark and unfair > >>competition laws. > >> > >>Red Hat, Inc. is concerned that your unauthorized > >>commercial use of its > >>trademarks is likely to create confusion, mistake > >>and/or deception > >>among > >>consumers with respect to the source, origin, > >>sponsorship or approval > >>of > >>the products sold on your commercial website. In > >>addition, your > >>commercial use of RED HAT dilutes the distinctive > >>qualities of the RED > >>HAT mark. > >> > >>While it is completely legal to copy and redistribute > >>the Linux > >>software > >>under the GNU General Public License, it is not legal > >>to name the > >>software “RED HAT” or any similar name thereof. The > >>GNU General Public > >>License deals specifically with the underlying > >>copyrights of the > >>software; not the trademarks owned by Red Hat, Inc. > >>You are free to > >>call > >>the software by any name of your choosing provided > >>that it does not > >>infringe on the trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or any > >>third party. > >> > >>Consequently, we request that you immediately cease > >>and desist from > >>making current or future use of any of Red Hat's > >>trademarks. Thus, we > >>ask that you change your website to comply with Red > >>Hat's trademark > >>guidelines by removing all references to the RED HAT > >>mark (or any > >>similar name and abbreviation) and remove our > >>trademarks from your > >>metatags. > >> > >>Please provide us with a response by July 7, 2003. We > >>look forward to > >>working with you toward an amicable resolution to this > >>matter. In the > >>meantime, if you have any questions, please do not > >>hesitate to contact > >>us. > >> > >>Very truly yours, > >> > >> > >>Jennifer A. Ennis > >>Trademark Administrator > >>Red Hat, Inc. > >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >> > >>http://www.redhat.com/about/corporate/trademark/index.html > >> > >>http://mobile.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Mobile > >>- Check & compose your email via SMS on your Telstra or > Vodafone mobile. > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > >
