This is just a WAG ... but do you suppose this is a result of the flap with
NuSphere?
Gerry
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Carp" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 6:27 AM
Subject: Use of the MySQL logo - licensing agreement
I've been looking at upgrading the logo on several of my personal web sites
to the new, cooler logo, so I popped over to
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/logos.html, which led me to
http://www.mysql.com/company/trademark.html and the shock of my life:
[...] Generally, no person or entity may use any MySQL AB Mark without the
prior, express written permission of MySQL AB.
[...] As a general rule, no person or entity may use (or authorize the use
of) any of the MySQL AB Marks in any manner other than as expressly
authorized by MySQL AB in a written agreement.
[...] When using a MySQL AB logo, you must never modify the design, add or
delete any words, or change any colors or proportions. Only the logo art
provided by MySQL AB may be used. You may, however, adjust the typesize of
the trademark notice symbol.
[...] If you are a user of the MySQL database server, (whether under the GPL
licence or a MySQL commercial licence) and have not modified the source code
for the application or use in question, you may request permission to
display the "Powered by MySQL" logo, as shown in the MySQL AB Mark Table in
Section 4(A), in the user interface (including your website) of the
application that runs on the MySQL server. To request permission, simply
send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] in which you identify your name (and
company name, if applicable) and the application, and you agree to adhere
strictly to this Trademark Policy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
What is this? Have the folks at MySQL gone out of their minds? Have they
abdicated the management of the company to lawyers?
I found the previous policy regarding the use of buttons, logos, etc., to be
very liberal, and beneficial to both the MySQL folks and to site
developers - it gave developers an opportunity to advertise a little for a
great database and to show a cool-looking logo on their site at the same
time and it gave MySQL a bit of free advertising. I find this existing
policy as written to be restrictive in the extreme - I can't show our pride
at having developed several significant products that rely on the MySQL
database engine without someone's specific *written* permission? I can't
diddle with the logo, like so many other people have done with the old logo
to make it cooler and stand out more? That's pretty nuts, if you ask me...
I read this new logo policy as a slap in the face to all the developers and
admins who have worked hard at spreading the "MySQL religion" to the far
corners of the web, at showing our pride at having a database engine that
one could install almost anywhere, that supported SQL, that flat-out
*screamed* performance-wise, and that was supported by a team of very cool
folks at MySQL. It reads as a knee-jerk reaction to the MySQL/NuSphere
brouhaha - one bad experience has screwed it up for the rest of us?
Tell me it ain't so, folks...tell me the greatest database on the face of
the planet hasn't sold out to the bean counters and lawsuit-filers...please!
--
Ed Carp, N7EKG - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - 214/341-4420 -
http://www.pobox.com/~erc
Squished Mosquito, Inc.
Internet Applications Development
Escapade Server-Side Scripting Language Development Team
http://www.squishedmosquito.com
Pensacola - Dallas - Dresden - London - Paris
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