(CC'ing debian-project as there might be people in that list that might have an opinion about this change) As most developers (me included) are not very much aware of the status of the Debian trademark I believe it would be interesting to add a page to the website that described more information about the Debian trademark and have that linked from the footnote "Debian is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc." in a similar way as to how the website's license is. Attached is a first draft of such a page. I would appreciate input on this information as I would like to add it to the website soonish. Please note that it just states facts, it does not go into any opinions on whether the current status is good, bad or whatever. Thanks Javier
#use wml::debian::template title="Debian's Trademark Policy" <H1>Status</H1> <p><em>Debian</em> is registered trademark of <a href="http://www.spi-inc.org/about-spi/trademarks";>Software in the Public Interest, Inc.</a> and managed by the Debian project. <p>The trademark was <a href="http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=75386376";>registered</a> the 21st of December of 1999 but has been in use since August 1993. It is registered under the Nice Class 009: "Computer Utility and Operating System Software". <H1>Allowed use</H1> <H2>Current policy</H2> <p>The current policy was <a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-announce/debian-announce-1998/msg00006.html";>announced</a> Bruce Perens, Debian Project Leader, in 1998:</p> <p><q>We allow all businesses to make reasonable use of the "Debian" trademark. For example, if you make a CD of our Debian GNU/Linux distribution, you can call that product "Debian". If you want to use the name in some other way, you should ask us <b>first</b>.</q></p> <p><q>To be fair to all businesses, we insist that no business use the name "Debian" in the name of the business, or a domain name of the business.</q></p> <H2>Future changes</H2> <p>As <a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2003/10/msg00003.html";>announced</a> by Martin Michlmayr, Debian Project Leader, in 2003 (also available as SPI resolution <a href="http://www.spi-inc.org/corporate/resolutions/2003-06-03-bmh.1";>2003-06-03-bmh.1</a>, a Trademark Committee was started to review SPI's trademark policy. This comitee can be contacted at <a href="http://lists.spi-inc.org/listinfo/spi-trademark";> spi-trademark@lists.spi-inc.org</a>. <p>Currently there are two drafts for the trademark policy, one drafted by <a href="http://wiki.mako.cc/TrademarkFreedom";>Benjamin Mako Hill</a> and a different one drafted by <a href="http://wiki.debian.org/ProposedTrademarkPolicy";>Branden Robinson</a>. <H1>Registration outside the US</H1> <P>A similar trademark is registered by some other associations related to the Debian Project over the world, this includes <a href="http://www.debian.or.jp";>debian JP</a> in Japan (<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2002/09/msg00161.html";>registered</a> in 2002), as well as Stiftelsen SLX Debian Labs in Norway and Vincent Renardias in France. <H1>Organisations licensed to use the trademark</H1> <p>The following organistions have been licensed to use the Debian trademark through a License Agreement: <ul> <li>Stiftelsen SLX Debian Labs, per SPI's resolution <a href="http://www.spi-inc.org/corporate/resolutions/2004-01-05-bmh.1";> 2004-01-05.bmh.1</a>) <li>Vincent Renardias and <q>Les logiciels du soleil</q>, per SPI's resolution <a href="http://www.spi-inc.org/corporate/resolutions/1999-08-06.mgs";> 1999-08-06.mgs</a>. <li>The Debian UK Society, <a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2005/08/msg00280.html";>by Branden Robinson</A>, Debian Project Leader. </ul>
Attachment:
signature.asc
Description: Digital signature