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.