Re: Rust trademark policy
After further reading on the topic and after receiving addition
feedback I have written an update to my understanding of the Rust
trademark issue.
<https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/directory-discuss/2021-06/msg00000.html>
Bone Baboon writes:
> Sections
> * Rust trademark policy
> * Impact on free software projects
>
> # Rust trademark policy
>
> Is Rust not free software because of the Rust trademark policy?
> <https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id=en:main:rusts_freedom_flaws>
>
> Information on the four software freedoms is here:
> <https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.en.html>.
>
> The trademark section of the Rust readme file
> <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/blob/master/README.md> says:
>
> ```
> The Rust programming language is an open source, community project
> governed by a core team. It is also sponsored by the Mozilla Foundation
> (“Mozilla”), which owns and protects the Rust and Cargo trademarks and
> logos (the “Rust Trademarks”).
>
> If you want to use these names or brands, please read the media guide.
> ```
> Note that it says that the Mozilla Foundation owns the Rust and Cargo
> trademarks.
>
> The is the media guide linked to in the trademark section of the Rust
> readme file:
> <https://www.rust-lang.org/policies/media-guide>
>
> The sections of <https://www.rust-lang.org/policies/media-guide> that
> look relevant to this question at hand are:
>
> * The "Trademark policy" section says "most commercial uses require
> permission". This appears to interfere with "The freedom to run the
> program as you wish, for any purpose (freedom 0).".
>
> * The "Uses that require explicit approval" section says "Distributing a
> modified version of the Rust programming language or the Cargo package
> manager and calling it Rust or Cargo requires explicit, written
> permission from the Rust core team.". This appears to interfere with
> "The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others
> (freedom 3).".
>
> <https://www.rust-lang.org/policies/media-guide> says "This document is
> not an official statement of Mozilla trademark policy, but serves to
> clarify Mozilla’s trademark policy as it relates to Rust.".
>
> Niko said in
> <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/53287#issuecomment-414472372>
> "You are correct that we intended the trademark to apply when
> distributing a package or other binary called "Rust" -- and in
> particular that if modifications are made, then we would expect a
> trademark request". This appears to interfere with:
> * The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help others (freedom 2).
> * The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others
> (freedom 3).
>
> When I asked about this in #hyperbola@Freenode I was referred to
> <https://github.com/rust-lang/foundation-faq-2020/issues/35>. This open
> issue on the Rust repository issue tracker shows that this is a current
> issue. In the issue nikomatsakis said "The foundation will be reviewing
> the trademark policy, but it will be up to the board to decide the terms
> that are selected."
>
> # Impact on free software projects
>
> If Rust is not free software then that would impact many free software
> project.
>
> One example is Linux. Recently there was a RFC for adding support for
> Rust to the Linux kernel <https://lkml.org/lkml/2021/4/14/1023>. Linus
> Torvalds's response is here <https://lkml.org/lkml/2021/4/14/1099>.
> This would also impact Linux forks such as Linux-libre.
>
> Another example is Firefox. <https://servo.org/> says "Servo is written
> in Rust, and shares code with Mozilla Firefox". This would also impact
> Firefox forks such as LibreWolf, IceCat and Tor browser.
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