Lanny, We just might. But the prodcut will continue to get better and better, and not matter what the name, I hope you enjoy using it.
I appreciate your sense of humor. It means you are passionate about the linux desktop, and I respect that. The current naming issues are mostly related to trademark, which I'll go into detail about below. 1.There is a company named 'Redmond Software' and while they might not jump out and sue us, with enough money and backing from another company (MS) they could take a shot at it. Also, the city of Redmond, which MS owns, might be compelled to take legal action. I don't know why, but it wouldn't matter because we'd have to throw our resources down the legal drain, and that's an effective way of dealing with Linux companies. If I were MS, I'd use it. So we can't use the word 'Redmond'. 2.Linux is a registered trademark. While Linus won't sue a company for using it, unless MS ever tries to ;-), using another trademarked word in your product or company name hurts your chances of differentiating your brand. Red Hat is the brand, not Red Hat Linux, look closely at the packaging. Same with the other distros. By using a word that is trademarked, other companies can name their product similarly and you can't do anything about it. So using 'Linux' in the company name isn't a good idea. 3.DesktopLinux is bad for the above reason, and Rick at desktoplinux.com, is claiming prior art on that name. 4.There is a company called 'Softworks' that recently got bought by a company named Powerlink, I think. Since there is prior art in this industry for that name, someone owns the rights, so it isn't a safe bet either. Let's face it, the only reason Open Source has power in the corporate world, a world that it was never intended for, is because of the laws that surround it. Trademark is a big one. If Linus had not trademarked Linux, where would we all be? Our users should take this as a sign--we are putting this amount of serious thought into a name, because we are committed to making the Linux desktop a reality. We get press because our product lives up to the promise of being a desktop alternative, as much as because of the name 'redmond'. If it was junk, people wouldn't cover it. Plus, we are still based in Redmond, so “Redmond's Not Just for Microsoft Anymore,” still applies. As Shakespeare said, “What's in a name? A rose by any other name should smell as sweet.” Regardless of what we call it, you use our desktop because it's a good alternative and getting better all the time. We are focused on creating a Linux desktop that is a refuge for tired Windows users, a desktop your mother could use, and we will make it happen. We will not be stopped because we didn't think things through. We will not be stopped by a frivolous lawsuit. We will not be stopped, period. All my best, Jason Spisak --- Lanny <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What is the deal? Is Redmond Linux going to change > their name every few days now? Linux Softworks > (DesktopLinux) and now Lycoris Desktop/LX. > > Lanny > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ - -- rl-users list. To leave, send "unsubscribe" without quotes in body of message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/rl-users@chicago.redmondlinux.org/
