Re: Ongoing Firefox (and Thunderbird) Trademark problems
On Tue, Jun 14, 2005 at 09:29:22AM +0100, Gervase Markham wrote:
> Thijs Kinkhorst wrote:
> >However, in #4, an explicit exception is made for program names and
> >version numbers. They are not considered fundamental enough to software to
> >require them to be as absolutely free as source code. So if we accept this
> >exception for software coming in, why can't we accept this same exception
> >for software derived from our distribution?
I don't think we can extend the exception to package name, if only for
practical reason.
> I would say, though, that given the great ease with which one can
> rebrand Firefox (see below for evidence), which is probably easier than
> almost any other existing application of comparable size due to the
> Netscape heritage and their need to rebrand, I don't think that it would
> be significantly limiting downstream freedoms if we said they had to
> change the name (or ask us) for *all* modifications. After all, that's
> what some packages whose licenses have name-change clauses say.
An important point of contention is whether the branding affect the
package name (the name of the .deb file), because this is a functionnal
name and changing it is a burden.
If it does, then we might be better off renaming the package to iceweasel
even if we keep the firefox branding.
Cheers,
--
Bill. <ballombe@debian.org>
Imagine a large red swirl here.
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