Linus trademarks Linux (5k a pop for use?) | The Coffeehouse

jamie

http://theinquirer.net/?article=25529

..yes its the Inquirer - but /. comments and groklaw seem to say it is indeed true

in other news - pigs fly - hell freezes over

Michael Griffiths
Fatalism.

Oh my.

I love the Slashdot comments. They're hysterical.

jamie

Karim
Trapped in a world he never made!

LOL Hilarious, Jamie...

Links to the Slashdot comments:

http://linux.slashdot.org/linux/05/08/15/2149225.shtml?tid=163&tid=155

And the Sydney Morning Herald article:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/next/linux-trademark-protection-comes-at-a-cost-for-some/2005/08/15/1123957995044.html?oneclick=true

When Microsoft wants to trademark Windows, it's nothing but another example of evil, monopolistic, competition-destroying practices...

...but when Linus wants to trademark Linux, it's merely to protect Linux against evil companies like Microsoft!

Maybe Microsoft should come out with a Linux distro. They could call it "Microsoft Linuxx™" or "Microsoft Lindoze™..."

Minh
WOOH! WOOH!

Karim wrote:
Maybe Microsoft should come out with a Linux distro. They could call it "Microsoft Linuxx™" or "Microsoft Lindoze™..."

Knowing MS naming department, it'll be more like "Microsoft Unix-Based Services and Applications Distribution For X86 Systems 2005"

Tensor
Im in yr house upgrading yr family

Minh wrote:

Karim wrote: Maybe Microsoft should come out with a Linux distro. They could call it "Microsoft Linuxx™" or "Microsoft Lindoze™..."
Knowing MS naming department, it'll be more like "Microsoft Unix-Based Services and Applications Distribution For X86 Systems 2005"

(Enterprise Edition)

Minh
WOOH! WOOH!

jamie wrote:

Haha, Jamie. So Linus has awaken from his socialist deep freeze and... (I'm bombing...)

Wil
Wil

Karim wrote:

When Microsoft wants to trademark Windows, it's nothing but another example of evil, monopolistic, competition-destroying practices...

...but when Linus wants to trademark Linux, it's merely to protect Linux against evil companies like Microsoft!

Well, of course, Linux is basically a modification of his name, whereas "Windows" is, um, prior art. Window systems existed on computer screens before Windows 1.0 was copied, er, developed, by MS.

Karim wrote:

Maybe Microsoft should come out with a Linux distro. They could call it "Microsoft Linuxx™" or "Microsoft Lindoze™..."

Remember that one of Microsoft's first products was a version of UNIX for the x86 called "Xenix". They could thus call their distro "Windex". Oh, wait...

Alternatively, they could just call it "Cairo". Then when people complain that MS never delivered the wonderful OS they promised in the early 1990s, they can say, "Here it is!"

Cider
Daze-d & Confused

I think this is astonishing, both the action taken by these people behind Linux and also, the justification of it by slashdotters and that loony-tunes Jehovah's Witness over at Groklaw.

Karim wrote:
...but when Linus wants to
trademark Linux, it's merely to protect Linux against evil companies like Microsoft!

There's really nothing wrong with protecting the trademark and it would be a justifiable position to take, but the bigger question is, why the amount of money? If this is about protecting trademarks, just stop people who you don't want using the trademark from using it, or charge a symbolic amount like 1 dollar or something.

No, this is about people lining their pockets, starting with a "pilot" in Australia.

Guess Beer needs to find a "BSD For Dummies" book now.

jamie

they probably need the trademark for DRM purposes - to be "legit"

meanwhile...

1600 1280 1024 800

Rossj

Actually I believe he trademarked it a couple of years ago and said at the time "use it how you like but don't abuse it or claim it is all yours etc". I wonder why the change of heart? It is probably someone misusing it ...

W3bbo
The Master of Baiters

Orbit86 wrote:
now, Will the REAL Linux please stand up?

speaker : "Solaris sit down"!!!

BSD > Linux Smiley

NeoTOM
OMG WTF REDESIGN

W3bbo wrote:
BSD > Linux

Windows > BSD

Karim
Trapped in a world he never made!

Minh wrote:

Karim wrote: Maybe Microsoft should come out with a Linux distro. They could call it "Microsoft Linuxx™" or "Microsoft Lindoze™..."
Knowing MS naming department, it'll be more like "Microsoft Unix-Based Services and Applications Distribution For X86 Systems 2005"

LOL

Cairo
I want my waffle sundae, give me my carbs!

Cider wrote:
loony-tunes Jehovah's Witness over at Groklaw

Nice.

rjdohnert
You will never know success until you know failure

Orbit86 wrote:
I heard reports that Adobe is porting its apps to Linux..

WRONG, they are taking a "wait and see approach" They do have Acrobat running under Linux and I guess they will sell that eventually.

JChung2006

I am curious what prompted Linus to trademark Linux in the first place. Are there really companies out there using Linux in their product names under false pretenses? Does anyone have any real examples?

Oberon

JChung2006 wrote:
I am curious what prompted Linus to trademark Linux in the first place. Are there really companies out there using Linux in their product names under false pretenses? Does anyone have any real examples?

Because some dirtbag registered the Linux name as a trademark in 1994 and tried to force some Linux companies to pay him royalties. You can read about it here:
Linux Trademark Dispute
Ownership of Linux Trademark Resolved
Another problem: back during the .COM craze some cyber-squatters were trying to sell domain names with Linux in them. This link may also be helpful to read:
Linus Explains Linux Trademark Issues

mrservices
POS Reseller

Beer28 wrote:
Linux wins over BSD because it simply has more compatible software. It's getting to the point where it's starting to have as much software as windows98 did a few years ago.

Hello All, I wrote about this last week from a Groklaw blog posting.

Like I posted, OpenBSD is the most secure default installed OS on the planet. I have installed it on i386's, Alpha, Sparc64, and sgi. Are you able to do that with Linux?

Using it as servers, firewalls, laptops and desktops.

Sure there isn't a zillion packages but 3000 and growing is plenty for my needs.

The OpenBSD devs are constantly auditing their code and fixing bugs in the packages.

When Microsoft Vista comes out and people need to upgrade their hardware, I will be happy to install OpenBSD for them. : )

OpenBSD gives you a warm fuzzy feeling!

Try it for free!

Best regards,

Roger

Oberon

Some information from the Linux Mark Institute:

linuxmark.org wrote:
WHO WE ARE:
As stated in our articles of incorporation, The Linux Mark Institute ("LMI") is an organization established "to protect the public and Linux® users of the world from unauthorized and confusing use of the Linux mark and to issue proper licenses to authorized users of the Linux mark." LMI is not designed to generate profits for anyone, which is why Linus Torvalds has given LMI primary sub-license rights for the mark. We work to protect legitimate uses of the LINUX trademark without burdening Linus Torvalds or any one entity with the financial responsibility of protecting the LINUX community's use of the mark.

Why are we necessary?
The express and only purpose of this organization is to set up a simple, self-funding procedure by which interested companies and individuals developing Linux operating system products and those desiring to sell services, accessories and related Linux paraphernalia can obtain a non-exclusive and simple trademark license for the proper use of the mark.

And also:

linuxmark.org wrote:
Who needs a linux® license:
To protect a registered trademark, the owner is required to "police" or control the use of the mark by others, under penalty of loss of the mark. Others may use or refer to a registered mark in some circumstances without a license from the owner if it is for a so-called "fair use," or in other cases they may need to obtain a license for the use. Some examples may help clarify the differences. Linus and LMI are not trying to develop a revenue source from licensing, so our interpretation of the trademark laws may be a bit more liberal than those of other trademark owners.

Examples of Fair Use.
If you are a journalist interested in writing articles that include the term "Linux," you do not need a sublicense. If you are printing up pencils, stenciling T-shirts, or distributing coffee cups with a legend on them like "Linux®is the greatest!" or "Even my Mother uses Linux®!" this is normally considered "fair use".

Trademarks: Use Requiring A Sublicense.
On the other hand, if you plan to market a Linux - based product or service to the public using a trademark that includes the element "Linux," such as "Super Dooper Linux" or "Real Time Linux Consultants" you are required to apply for and obtain a low-cost sublicense from LMI. This is true whether or not you apply to register your trademark with a government.

If In Doubt, Find Out.
If you have any questions about the need for a sublicense from LMI, please contact us at the addresses on this web site. We will try to respond promptly. In many cases you will find that obtaining the sublicense is simple and low cost protection from any problems in the future. In other cases, we will send you a letter confirming that you do not need the license because of the nature of your use.

mrservices
POS Reseller

Beer28 wrote:
Linux wins over BSD because it simply has more compatible software. It's getting to the point where it's starting to have as much software as windows98 did a few years ago.

Hello Beer28,

I didn't say anything about one OS winning over another OS. I'm saying that OpenBSD is the most secure default installed OS on the planet. And freely available for download. Can you dispute that and show me the facts if you can?

When I looked at Fedora the only hardware I saw supported is i386 and PowerPC. Do I have to buy an Enterprise edition or other software edition to get other platform support than i386 or PowerPC?

I went to Suse and Suse Pro just runs on i386 and I have to pay for that one too.

Now if I want to use the Linux trademark I have to pay that too!

I can freely use OpenBSD name and logos as long as the credit is recognized. I can do whatever I want, legally of course, with OpenBSD and not worry about IP and the other licensing woes. Even make a profit. : )

Whatever works for the individual or company is great. I find OpenBSD easy to use, secure and meets my needs.

Have you tried OpenBSD yet? I have tried a dozen Linux distros, other BSD flavors and find OpenBSD with the cleanest installation and easy setup.
e.g. pf firewall

Let me know if you have tried OpenBSD and the experience you had with it. If you haven't tried it and recommend that you do.

Best regards,

Roger

mrservices
POS Reseller

Beer28, why do I have to hunt around the internet for different Linux distros for different platform support when I can get the platfrom support from OpenBSD?
Do you think the Linux trademark licensing will just be in Australia?

I recommend that you install OpenBSD and get first hand experience with it to form an opinion.

www.openbsd.org

Best regards,

Roger

JChung2006

Oberon wrote:

JChung2006 wrote: I am curious what prompted Linus to trademark Linux in the first place. Are there really companies out there using Linux in their product names under false pretenses? Does anyone have any real examples?

Because some dirtbag registered the Linux name as a trademark in 1994 and tried to force some Linux companies to pay him royalties. You can read about it here:
Linux Trademark Dispute
Ownership of Linux Trademark Resolved
Another problem: back during the .COM craze some cyber-squatters were trying to sell domain names with Linux in them. This link may also be helpful to read:
Linus Explains Linux Trademark Issues

Thank you for the links!

I wonder what the Australian companies were trying to do with the Linux trademark. Were they legitimate Linux companies or were they unscrupulous "Della Croce" sorts trying to make a fast buck off the Linux name?

mrservices
POS Reseller

Hello Beer28, different strokes for different folks. : )

Yes, I use OpenBSD on everything from desktop, server, firewall and laptops.

If I were a gamer I would be using a game console not a PC.

If Linux works for you great!

OpenBSD works for me!

Best regards,

Roger

rjdohnert
You will never know success until you know failure

Beer28 wrote:
It doesn't sound like you use BSD for your desktop which is in stark contrast to what I use linux for, as well as for my servers.

EDIT: That doesn't even count the closed source linux binary software I pay for that I could never use again. I use those apps alot.

BSD has an Linux Binary layer that allows you to work with Linux apps under BSD. I have tried it and it runs most if not all Linux applications.