Tom "spot" Callaway wrote:
On 2009-01-30 at 9:09:51 -0500, Ralf Corsepius <rc040203@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tom "spot" Callaway wrote:
Please, if you're a packager, take a moment and go read this:
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Packaging:Guidelines#Trademarks_in_Summary_or_Description
After talking with Red Hat Legal about how we should be handling
trademarks in package summaries and descriptions, we came to the
conclusion that it would be far easier (and less risky for Red Hat) if
we did not use "(TM)" or "(R)" notations at all. This does not mean that
you can use trademarks freely, you still need to be careful in how you
use them. When in doubt, try not to use it. If you have questions, you
can either email me or fedora-legal@xxxxxxxxxxx
IMO, your advice collides with "fair use" of trademarks, in particular
when commonly used names actually refer to trademarked items or when
package even contain something trademarked.
Cf. e.g.
http://www.sgi.com/products/software/opengl/license.html
http://www.sgi.com/products/software/opengl/trademarks.html
Not really. Please keep in mind that SGI's interpretation of fair use is
sketchy at best. In the US, only the owner of a trademark is permitted
to use the (R) symbol, and SGI describes it as fair use for anyone to
use it.
Then let me ask differently:
RH prefers _us_ to refer to Microsoft instead of Microsoft(TM), rsp. to
Red Hat instead of Red Hat(TM), rsp. to Fedora instead of Fedora (TM) in
documents, packages, etc?
This collides with any common practice I've seen so far.
Documents referring to trademarked items typically either use ...
"Windows(TM)" or "Windows" accompanied with a footnote disclaimer
"Windows is a trademark of Microsoft ...".
The general rule (as a result of US Supreme Court decisions) is that no
more of the trademark should be used than necessary for the legitimate
purpose, and that confusion should be avoided whenever possible.
OK, I maintain a package originating from SGI(TM) called Inventor(TM)
(a trademark of SGI)? What to do about it?
To me, acknowledging their trademarks in Fedora(TM) is fair use.
Ralf
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