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.