Re: Open Source Madness!
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| ccady Oct 10, 2006 9:01 AM EDT |
Point 1) SJVN refers to the a project called GNUtella. Although such a project exists, it is not the one he means. He means GNUzilla. Poor editing, I suppose. Point 2) Firefox (the brand) is not free. (Although Firefox, the code, is free.) The Mozilla Foundation is not freely allowing anyone to distribute changes to the code and still call it Firefox. The means that beither the brand Firefox, nor its logo are free. If Debian is to distribute software, it must be free, so that downstream developers can modify it. Ubuntu and others need free software to work with. There are two ways around this problem. 1) Debian can distribute the software with a free logo and a free name (IceWeasel), or 2) The Mozilla Foundation can free the name and logo Since The Mozilla Doundation seems unwilling to do the latter, Debian is doing the former. |
| dinotrac Oct 10, 2006 9:23 AM EDT |
ccady - I think you miss some very fundamental differences between trademarks and other forms of intellectual property. A trademark is a guarantee, of sorts. Say you buy a Ford automobile. That "Ford" in the name doesn't just tell you what it is, it tells you who made it and gives you an idea of the quality behind it. A trademark is different, also, in that it must be defended or it is lost. That's why little letters go out to writers reminding them that it's not kleenex, it's Kleenex brand tissue. |
| dcparris Oct 10, 2006 9:25 AM EDT |
Either solution is reasonable, imo. No one has to be angry at Firefox or Debian folks. The two groups simply need to be sure they understand each other and act accordingly. That's all there is to it. |
| dinotrac Oct 10, 2006 9:26 AM EDT |
dc - Yes. What some of the fire-breathers forget is that even RMS takes a different tack on trademarks than he does on other forms of IP. There is a difference and it matters. The code remains free. |
| tuxchick2 Oct 10, 2006 9:30 AM EDT |
Nice summary, ccady. Pretty much says it all. Except you left out "and SJVN is a sensationalism-seeking weenie." :) |
| dcparris Oct 10, 2006 10:28 AM EDT |
Yes, RMS applauds the use of trademarks. How interesting that we often forget/overlook that fact. |
| jdixon Oct 10, 2006 6:07 PM EDT |
> and SJVN is a sensationalism-seeking weenie." :) Isn't that the definition of journalist at most places? |
| dcparris Oct 10, 2006 6:36 PM EDT |
Thanks, jdixon! I've been thinking to myself, "what a sensational journalist I am"! ;-) Sorry, couldn't resist. |
| tuxchick2 Oct 10, 2006 6:37 PM EDT |
/me shines Don's head with Shinola and paints on a Groucho mustache |
| dinotrac Oct 10, 2006 7:16 PM EDT |
tc -- Now, inquiring minds want to know -- exactly where on Don's head is that moustache painted? |
| tuxchick2 Oct 10, 2006 8:39 PM EDT |
Don, dino made me do it: http://bratgrrl.com/Don_Parris.jpg |
| dinotrac Oct 11, 2006 2:50 AM EDT |
tc - Hmmm. Looks like I should be forget all those Elvis sighting reports and keep an eye peeled for Frank Zappa. Cool. |
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