> With the three years of experience since then, Sun > has decided that it > would be better for both the community and for its > own business, if > distros were allowed to use the OpenSolaris trademark > so that they could > form an ecosystem of compatible software package and > services. > > To jumpstart this ecosystem, Sun has decided to fund > Project Indiana to > build a base distro, which it will name OpenSolaris, > and to allow others > to use the OpenSolaris trademark in approved ways in > the name or > marketing of their distros.
I think this is a great reply. Things can move quickly now that everyone can start working from this new starting point. I suggest a new clear branding initiative spearheaded by Sun. OpenSolaris (the distro) OpenSolaris Codebase (the new name for the entire OpenSolaris code base) For other-distro compatibility certification and trademark usage, I see four likely situations to address: 1) Branding OpenSolaris with the certification brand (what to do here comes after having decided what happens below) 2) Branding other distros built using the OpenSolaris distro constructor as compatible and "built with"[1] certification brands 3) Branding other distros that use the OpenSolaris Codebase as "compatible"[1] certification brand 4) Branding a distro that uses OpenSolaris code but has not passed the certification process[1] [1] The compatibility criteria that must be met to gain use of the compatibility certification brands has yet to be decided. Below is my discussion about these situations. See the summary at the bottom to skip the details. Re: #2 and #3: After thinking about it, I don't see a benefit for Sun or anyone else in having both the "Built with [distro constructor]" and "Compatible with" brands. I see no reason to give the use of distro constructor such importance. I think a rigorous set of requirements to meet to be "OpenSolaris Compatible" is sufficient, and perhaps using the distro constructor would buy you an easier path through the certification process. Note that "Compatible with OpenSolaris" and "OpenSolaris Compatible" are synonym trademarks-brands here. So in this new world I'm suggesting, the recent NexentaCore press release could have said something like "NexentaCore is a free and open source operating system combining the OpenSolaris Codebase with GNU application userland. It is OpenSolaris and Linux 2.4 compatible." (the breakup of the "OpenSolaris Compatible" trademark is on purpose to suggest a real world use IF Sun is kind and not too tough on enforcement of the exact brand). The NexentaCore website and docs and installer could then splash the "OpenSolaris Compatible" logo everywhere ala "Intel Inside". Re: #4: It is easy to say "Built on/with OpenSolaris". Either you don't claim that as a trademark now and you let both incompatible and compatible distros use it, or you claim it now and decide what it means. I suggest claiming it as a synonym for OpenSolaris Compatible. Then to deal with incompatible distros, you let them use a new brand-trademark: "Built with the OpenSolaris Codebase". So you get the OpenSolaris brand out there even on incompatible distros. To prevent confusion you A) make the branding art significantly different, B) strongly discourage the use of "Built on/with OpenSolaris" in favor of "OpenSolaris Compatible" and "Compatible with OpenSolaris", and C) keep an eye on incompatible distros to make sure they follow the rules. OR you could do none of this and let the dice roll. But whatever you do I'd consider heading these issues off at the pass and control that fire before it starts. This leaves #1: Branding the OpenSolaris distro (note: that is a term like the "Linux kernel"). Do you give it "OpenSolaris Compatible" and "Built with the OpenSolaris Codebase"? Confusion here (incompatible distros get "Built with" and compatible ones with "Compatible"?) is a good reason to kill off or control the use of "Built with" before it starts. Summary AKA My actions if I represented Sun. Let any distro that passes the certification tests use "OpenSolaris Compatible" and "Compatible with OpenSolaris". Play hardball with anyone running an incompatible distro and let them use no OpenSolaris trademark except "OpenSolaris Codebase". Reserve the "Built with" and "Built on" permutations to control their use as situations demand. "OpenSolaris is now officially an OpenSolaris Compatible distribution built with the OpenSolaris Codebase." -- This message was posted from opensolaris.org
