Thanks Ross, it would help if particular usages in questions (even if they are not yet complaints) are discussed. We are not lawyers, and examples would be simpler to understand
My internal policy was never to speak from the role of ASF, sometimes speak from the role of PPMC. We use a completely different trademark "Телесовещания" in Russia for any commercial activity. I hoped that was sufficient. I have investigated the following http://www.google.ru/search?q=%22apache%20openmeetings%22 It shows there are few cases we used Apache Openmeetings, which are not covered by examples from the policy. I believe thefollowing cases are fair use, maybe we should avoid some of them. Please advise. * We commnicated to other open source communities adressing our product as Apache Openmeetings (e.g. jitsi, red5) and trying to build a better ecosystem for us. This is mostly the only case when I openly speak from the face of PPMC outside of Apache mail lists (not mentioning Apache organization PPMC details though). * We use Apache Openmeetings instead of "Openmeetings subproject of Apache Incubator" instead. That's too long. Openoffice does the same. If "incubating" is important, we can use it on regular basis. * The commercial entity offered small incentives to prepare any patch for "Apache Openmeetings" on a developer blog. That was an open proposal. Google does mostly the same thing in GSoC. Also the goal was to strengthen community, not to solve the business tasks. That's sponsorship, and write now we (as a project) don't have a lot of sponsorship. Consider the quote, Our marks must not be used to disparage the Apache Software Foundation, our projects, members, sponsors, or communities, nor be used in any way to imply ownership, endorsement, or **sponsorship** of any ASF-related project or initiative of any kind. This statement I fail to understand. AFAIK, Microsoft openly sponsors Apache and some particular Apache products. http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2008/07/microsoft-to-sponsor-of-the-apache-software-foundation/ Taking the statement literally, when I raise money for our developers, I cannot refer to the Apache project. My take on that is to clarify the trademark policy here. It's ok for any person or entity to sponsor anything he likes and write press releases he wants to. Would it be sufficient to mention that someone sponsors "developers of Apache Openmeetings" or "the project based on Apache Openmeetings" instead of "Apache Openmeetings"? * Employment advertisement mentoned Apache Openmeetings project. -- With best regards / с наилучшими пожеланиями, Alexei Fedotov / Алексей Федотов, http://dataved.ru/ +7 916 562 8095 On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 2:59 AM, Ross Gardler <[email protected]> wrote: > The domain is not really a problem since it predates the projects move > here. we're not interested in killing off your business ;-) As long as > the PPMC has no objections to what you are doing there then all is > good. Things can certainly be improved to ensure any new PPMC members > not aware of your history with the project do not get confused. There > a specific domain name guidelines linked from the policy document - > see http://www.apache.org/foundation/marks/domains.html > > There hasn't been any specific complaints. This is more of a friendly > nudge to ensure you fully read and understand the trademark policies > in order to minimise any chance of complaints. > > Ross > > > On 19 July 2012 11:51, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi Ross, >> >> is the domain name itself an issue or does any of the content at the >> website violate trademark policies? >> The website is mine so I can remove any of the content. >> >> Thanks! >> Sebastian >> >> 2012/7/19 Ross Gardler <[email protected]> >> >>> The ASF has a defined trademark policy which all Top Level Projects >>> are expected to follow. It has recently been pointed out that some >>> uses of the OpenMeetings marks are not following these policies. Note, >>> nobody has actually complained about this but it would be nice to see >>> the PPMC better enforcing their policies. >>> >>> The trademark policy is at: http://www.apache.org/foundation/marks/ >>> >>> The site in question (but it may not be limited to this site) is >>> http://www.openmeetings.de/ >>> >>> Question regarding how to best comply with the policy can be addressed >>> to [email protected], although your mentors can help in the first >>> instance. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Ross >>> >>> -- >>> Ross Gardler (@rgardler) >>> Programme Leader (Open Development) >>> OpenDirective http://opendirective.com >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Sebastian Wagner >> https://twitter.com/#!/dead_lock >> http://www.openmeetings.de >> http://www.webbase-design.de >> http://www.wagner-sebastian.com >> [email protected] > > > > -- > Ross Gardler (@rgardler) > Programme Leader (Open Development) > OpenDirective http://opendirective.com
