On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 9:51 AM, Stephen Lau <stevel at opensolaris.org> wrote: > Shawn Walker wrote: > > On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 12:18 AM, Stephen Lau <stevel at opensolaris.org> > wrote: > > > >> usage policy in the open), but I think that seizing the OpenSolaris name > >> from the community and co-opting it for the use of its own distribution > >> > > > > How did they seize something for a purpose that they never gave it for? > > > > How can we feel indignant about the usage of a name to which we had > > limited rights to use? > > > > The trademark has always been theirs *we* were the ones to co-opt it > > with their permission at launch. > > > > co-opting would only apply if it was our property; it is not, it is theirs. > > > > > I agree, it's not our property - but every indication which Sun gave was > that they setup the OpenSolaris community around an OpenSolaris codebase > that was vendor neutral. And it's not just the external indication, > this was a decision reached internally and this was exactly how Sun > wanted to proceed.
If that is the case; that message was poorly communicated. I never had that understanding from the first day. I also don't see Sun choosing to allow a specific distribution to use the trademark as being not "vendor neutral." > 2 and a half years later, Sun decides it wants to pursue a different > route, take back what's theirs, and go take it in a different > direction. Again, that's well within their rights - but is poor form > and certainly not reflective of an open community. To me, I don't view it as taking anything back. In fact, I remember at launch day how there was some argument over the restrictions over the trademark and being able to create web page buttons, etc. If anything, usage of the trademark is more permissive today than it was when the project was first launched. Not only that, Sun is allowing *more* usage of that trademark than what was previously allowed. I don't see how people can spin this as a negative. > >> Good luck. I think having a reference binary distribution is a great > >> idea. I think Sun wanting to commercialise it and build a business > >> > > > > I think what is best for our users is more important than some > > perceived political happiness > I completely agree. > I just think that if Sun wants to do what's best for its future users, > it could start by communicating and working better with its current ones. I will readily agree that there has been poor communication here, because community members that weren't "part of the inside track" have a very different perception of the situation. -- Shawn Walker, Software and Systems Analyst http://binarycrusader.blogspot.com/ "To err is human -- and to blame it on a computer is even more so." - Robert Orben
