Changes at the Linux Mark Institute [LWN.net]

Changes at the Linux Mark Institute

Posted Jun 23, 2005 5:19 UTC (Thu) by pjgrok (guest, #17472)
Parent article: Changes at the Linux Mark Institute

When it comes to legal things, openness isn't always so helpful.
Think about all the uses you can think of for the term Linux, like some media outlets that misuse the name to print constant streams of antiLinux stories, and ask if you want them to participate. They will, if it's completely open, and they will do harm.

That's one area where the community has to learn to trust a little bit more, I think, so that the legal eagles can do their job without a handicap. You want them to win, don't you? Then let them strategize in privacy as much as possible.

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Changes at the Linux Mark Institute

Posted Jun 23, 2005 6:43 UTC (Thu) by ekj (subscriber, #1524) [Link]

like some media outlets that misuse the name to print constant streams of antiLinux stories

That's not "misuse" neither can (or should) Trademark-law be used to stop critisism.

Luckily you do *not* need the permission of McDonalds to publish "The working-conditions by McDonalds leave a lot to be desired", nor do you need to ask the permission of Nike to publish a report about where and how their shoes are actually made.

And you also do not need the permission of the "Linux" trademark-holder to publish some article critical about Linux. Now, the article migth be worthy of critique for other reasons, like being slanted or factually incorrect, but the use of the trademark "Linux" in a story about Linux is clearly allowed.

It's called free speech.

Linux mark used to troll

Posted Jun 23, 2005 18:21 UTC (Thu) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link]

I think that the original poster referred to news outlets which use "linux" in their names, but only to troll with cheap provocations to Linux users. We can mention LinuxWorld (up until 1.5 months ago), Linux Online and whatever outlet employing Maureen O'Gara, for example.

Personally I doubt that the Linux mark can be used as a defense against that, or even should; but it's probably a minor concern to the Linux Mark Institute.