MENGUAL Jean-Philippe writes ("Re: Request for official help"): > Here is the mail I could get in English. It sums up the situation.
Thanks. This is very helpful. As far as I can see: * Amazon seem to be concerned that products should not be sold on Amazon without an EAN, if the manufacturer in fact assigned (or will assign) an EAN. * Reading between the lines, Amazon also wants to avoid getting embroiled in trademark infringements. * Amazon think that manufacturers and trademark holders are always the same. As a result, Amazon will probably be satisfied with a letter from Debian, even though Debian is not the manufacturer. So I think the Debian project has the following options: 1. Write a letter like the one I propose below (NB this is slightly different to the original one proposed.) 2. Become an EAN issuer via something like this GSI website, and set up an arrangement for EAN issuance on behalf of manufacturers. 3. Become an EAN issuer and assign EANs for specific ISO files, with the expectation that all manufacturers of DVDs or whatever with the same contents, will use the same EAN. 4. Decide that Debian products should always be sold with EANs but that product manufacturers should acquire their own EANs somehow. I think that (4) is unhelpful and I include it only for completeness. I think (as previously discussed) that (3) is contrary to the intent of the EAN system. For example, one can imagine a hypothetical trade fair where Debian DVDs from different manufacturers (maybe with different cover art, different packaging, or different media quality) are being sold, but via a unified checkout system. If they have the same EAN they aren't distinguishable by barcode. Furthermore it would mean that a manufacturer couldn't make hypothetical "Debian ISO - Enterprise Edition" with cover appealing to idiots in suits, but with the same contents, and have the barcode at the till distinguish it from the "Debian ISO - home edition" with a colourful logo and a cheaper price. That can't be right. (2) is extra work. Debian is desperately short of volunteer effort for administrative stuff. I don't think (2) would be a good use of Debian's volunteer effort. Therefore I propose that we should write a letter (1). Draft below. We should probably run this past a lawyer. Ian. Debian Project <date> RE DEBIAN - EUROPEAN ARTICLE NUMBER (EAN) To Whom It May Concern The Debian Project ("Debian") and Software In The Public Interest , Inc (SPI) wish to make known that: 1. Debian, through its Trusted Organisations including SPI, own and control the trademark "Debian" in various jurisdictions. 2. Debian does not provide European Article Numbers (EANs). Nor do any of Debian's associated organisations do so on Debian's behalf. 3. Debian and SPI give public permission for products embodying Debian's software and documentation to be sold, according to the Debian Trademark Policy (which can be found at https://www.debian.org/trademark). That policy doese not make any requirement about EANs. Therefore (provided the the policy is adhered to) we have no objection to Debian branded products being sold without EANs. 4. Debian do not anticpate this situation changing in the next 2 years. Specifically, we do not expect to be issuing EANs within the next 2 years. 5. Please therefore allow vendors of Debian merchandise to trade, notwithstanding any lack of EANs for those products. 6. This is without predjudice, of course, to our right to enforce our trademarks against anyone found violating our trademark policy. We are simply saying that lack of an EAN is, in itself, completely fine. Signed for the Debian Project for Software in the Public Interest Debian Project Leader corporate Secretary