It has become increasingly apparent, that our sponsor, Sun Microsystems, feels that it is vital to their business interests, that they produce and support an Operating System named "OpenSolaris". I am of the opinion that I agree with Sun's assessment of their situation.
We (Sun and the community) are in a small predicament due to this situation, as that particular trademark is already in use by this community, to describe itself, and to describe the code base this community manages. Since the founding goals of the community were not to produce binaries, and were not to allow any distro to name itself "OpenSolaris", we have recently seen much anguish in the community. I would like to offer a number of proposals, that would aim rectify the situation of naming an open development community after our sponsor's most dear assets. (Sun Microsystems' Solaris TM) Proposal #1 OGB should use Board Committees: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I propose that the OGB take advantage of "Board Committees" to take a more active role in governing the community. Understanding that the OGB has only so many hours, the instinct is to push decisions to a CG. I feel that this is not always the best course of action. The OGB should look at taking up some of these broader issues, and deal with them through committees. This would allow the community as a whole to govern itself more effectively, and allow the OGB to take on a newer active role. >From the Constitution: "6.12. Board Committees. The OGB may designate, by resolution adopted by an affirmative vote of a majority of the OGB members, any number of Board Committees, each consisting of at least one OGB member and composed of persons appointed by the OGB from time to time. Each committee, to the extent provided in such authorizing resolution, shall have and may exercise all the power and authority of the OGB in the management of the business and affairs of the OpenSolaris Community within the limits imposed by the Charter." Proposal #3 OGB instantiate a "Trademark Committee" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I feel the whole Naming issue is best handled by the OGB, vs. a single CG. I propose that the OGB instantiates a Naming Board Committee. This is especially needed since an appropriately scoped CG does not exist. (If the OGB disagrees, I ask that the OGB instead state which CG it feels is the appropriate CG to handle these issues. Proposal #3 OGB Investigate renaming the community to a name that does not contain our Sponsor's Trademarks --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I would propose that the OGB investigates renaming the existing community with a new trademark, that doesn't utilize any Sun trademarks. (The new trademarks would be held by a small outfit, that only exists to hold and enforce the trademark). Because this project is of vital importance to the identity of the entire community, I would ask that the OGB itself sponsor/lead this project. (Possibly through another "board committee") The time is right, and the community is looking to the OGB to actively represent it's best interests. Let us not let this opportunity pass us by. Thanks, Brian -- - Brian Gupta http://opensolaris.org/os/project/nycosug/
