On 2010-01-19 3:57 PM, McLauchlan, Kevin wrote:
>  Tanstaafl [mailto:[email protected]] 
>>> Why anybody ever thought it was smart to tack that ".org" 
>>> onto the end of "OpenOffice" as part of the APPLICATION  
>>> name, I'll never understand.

>> It wasn't because they were trying to be cute, it's because they
>> *couldn't* use the name 'OpenOffice', because someone else has it
>> trademarked.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenOffice.org

> Are you sure?

Since I wasn't privy to any of the discussions that must have happened
at the time the decision was made, of course I'm not sure.

> I think it WAS because they were trying to be cute.

Feel free to think whatever you like...

> The legal problem only precluded them using the unvarnished name,
> didn't it? It didn't dictate which varnish they could apply to
> differentiate from the trademark.

Yes, but what is your point?

> I'm just saying that the particular suffix that they chose was bound
> to cause confusion. They could have found another way to
> differentiate that would not have carried an incorrect meaning that
> would trip a large number of people (that being the group of people
> who are aware of the .org domain).

For some people, maybe. Some people are confused by things that
shouldn't confuse a 5 year old. Thats life.

Also, your comment makes a (imnsho) *false* assumption that this trips
up a 'large number' of people... where is the link providing evidence to
back up this claim?

> Or, did I miss a link to a letter from the Trademark holder's lawyer
> saying:
> 
> "You can use the word 'OpenOffice' ONLY if you tack the exact suffix
> '.org' onto it. No other form, no other suffix or prefix will be
> allowed, or we'll kill all your children."  ??
> 
> OpenOffice.suite OpenOffice_suite OpenOffice-suite
> OpenOffice.prog  OpenOffice_prog  OpenOffice-prog  
> OpenOffice.app  OpenOffice_app  OpenOffice-app  
> OpenOffice.free  OpenOffice_free  OpenOffice-free  . . .  and so many more.
> 
> Were those forbidden? 
> 
> Where's that link?

Where is my claim that the .org version was the *only* choice?

I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

-- 

Best regards,

Charles

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