Ben Rockwood wrote:
>
>> 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")
>>
>>
> Without a legal entity such as a non-profit foundation, or something,
> this isn't realistic. Furthermore, I don't believe that the situation
> is so grim as to consider renaming the "OpenSolaris Community" to
> something else. The name/brand is established and is gonna stick...
> this really is the underlying reason that we got into this "problem" in
> the first place.
>
> I would, however be willing to re-evaluate my position if you can
> further develop this idea.
>
Everyone seems to be really opposed to the idea of starting a
non-profit. I'm not sure I understand the objection, but let me point
out one thing that I think everyone in the community needs to understand.
IF we want to exist as a community *independent* from Sun, then we
*must* have control over our own identity, and ultimately also things
like resources, etc. An entity (non-profit or otherwise) becomes
necessary. (I think there are other third party non-profits that can
act as an "umbrella placeholder" as well, if we don't want to start our
own. I have no experience there.)
IF we do NOT want to be truly independent of Sun (and that may not be
such a terrible thing... Sun is after all the largest contributor to
this project by several orders of magnitude) then we don't need to go
down that path, but we need to stop complaining when Sun uses the
OpenSolaris name however they see fit.
SO, I think we need to decide *that* question... do we as a community
exist only at the pleasure of Sun Microsystems? Or do we exist on our
own? I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other, but then
again, I believe at the end of the day Sun's best interests and the
community's best interests are for the most part very complementary.
But, answer that first question, and I think a lot of consequential
decisions start to become a lot easier... or at least more obvious what
the "right" answer has to be.
-- Garrett
