On Sat, Dec 22, 2012 at 6:46 PM, Dave Fisher <[email protected]> wrote: > One of the ways that sites that offer downloads of Apache OpenOffice (or > OpenOffice.org) often do is: > > (1) Don't acknowledge that the trademarks are the Apache Software > Foundation's. > > (2) Make use of the project's and ASF's resources to offer free support and > other downloads. > > They simply hide as legitimate sites. One example is openoffice.us.com. >
Probably worth choosing our battles carefully. For example, look at CNet. They just named is the #2 download for 2012 in the Business Software category, behind the Adobe Acrobat Reader: http://download.cnet.com/Windows-Top-10-of-2012/?tag=rb_content;main (That in itself is cool, since the ratings are for all free/shareware software varieties on www.download.com, not just open source) They host the latest Windows release of AOO here: http://download.cnet.com/OpenOffice-org/3000-18483_4-10263109.html?tag=mncol;txt But they got the branding wrong. They call it Apache OpenOffice.org. But this sounds like a communications issue, and one of us should reach out and offer to help them update that. > One thing that we can do to get in the way of this is keep a list of these > domains and when web requests are referred from them we can take users to a > warning page where we can explain the situation, help users get to legitimate > resources and let these providers know how to properly reference trademarks > and make their offering distinct from Apache OpenOffice. > Maybe first contact them with a note and try to resolve it that way. But even then, someone who offers a legit copy of Apache OpenOffice and gets the name slightly wrong, they are not the real problems out there. The real ones are those that offer something other than AOO, or offer AOO bundled with malware, and then use our logos and sponsored Google ads to lure users to download their installer, which installs more than the user was expecting. But in these cases I don't think there is a link back to our website to redirect. > Perhaps there is something that can be done with Google to have them > downgrade search terms for OpenOffice for specific URLs. > I investigated this a while ago. Google generally will not remove or alter search listings based on alleged trademark violations. They are only a mediator and do not own the underlying website. However, in practice, the most abusive sites are not relying on organic search engine placement. We are #1 in real search results. The fakes are getting placement via paid advertisements. In that case, Google is more than just mediator, and they will take action if trademarked terms are used in the text of advertisements. See: http://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=6118&rd=1 And obviously this would a discussion to involve Shane in as well. Regards, -Rob > Regards, > Dave
