On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 1:55 PM, Lawrence Rosen <[email protected]> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I notice that you're leaning toward "Apache OpenOffice".
>
> Please proceed cautiously and get proper legal advice first. On first blush, 
> this sounds and looks very much like the OpenOffice trademark that Oracle 
> already had to work around. Simply putting Apache in front of something 
> doesn't necessarily distinguish it from other trademarks.
>

Opinions vary on whether adding ".org" to a name necessarily
distinguishes it either.

There is one Dutch company that claims a registration on "Open Office"
(note the space) as a name for a corporation providing IT services.

More details via Google Translates:

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=nl&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.openoffice.nl%2F&act=url

They claim that even with the ".org" the name is still confusing.

> For example, I imagine that Apache Firefox would be resisted by Mozilla.
>
> NOTE: This email is not legal advice.
>
> /Larry
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Shane Curcuru [mailto:[email protected]]
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 6:56 AM
>> To: [email protected]; [email protected]
>> Subject: Re: [VOTE][RESULT] Trademark and Brand
>>
>> Note: yes, you should explicitly email trademarks@ if you have a
>> specific brand question that needs a direct answer.  Thanks.
>>
>> On 2011-11-29 8:58 AM, Rob Weir wrote:
>> > In case it was not clear, we're waiting for a "go-ahead" from Shane
>> > before taking the rebranding to the next step, e.g. updating website,
>> > revising the logo, communicating the change, etc.
>>
>> +1, Apache OpenOffice is the perfect name for the podling.
>>
>> Have folks thought about a final logo yet?  (Note: that's not at all
>> required, I'm just curious - and am wondering how to make a smooth
>> looking logo including the "Apache" with the gulls)
>>
>> >
>> > Also, one of the incubator graduation checklist items is:
>> >
>> > "Make sure that the requested project name does not already exist and
>> > check www.nameprotect.com to be sure that the name is not already
>> > trademarked for an existing software product."
>>
>> I have not seen any issue in similar TM searches.
>>
>> - Shane
>>
>> >
>> > It would be good to know whether this is something that Shane does as
>> > part of this approval project, or whether this is something we do.
>> > (And if we do it, then how do we get a login?).
>> >
>> > Finally, I've seen other podlings call for a vote on general.i.a.o
>> for
>> > a podling name change, e.g., HMS to Ambari.  Is this required?
>> >
>> > -Rob
>> ...snip...
>
>

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