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Hi guys, |
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|
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Here's an update on the trademark registration: |
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|
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1) Progress on getting the name "Gentoo" registered as an official trademark |
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is going well. The UST&PO wanted more clarity in the description of |
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"Gentoo", and we are planning to amend the description so be something like |
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this: |
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|
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"Computer software, namely operating system software that automatically |
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configures and optimizes performance on the underlying hardware and is |
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adapted for a large number of usage scenarios and applications, namely, |
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secure servers, development workstations, professional desktops, gaming |
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systems and embedded solutions." |
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|
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I'm going to try to change "is adapted" to something like "capable of |
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adapting" and "namely" to "including". The examiner at the UST&PO is trying |
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to make the description less vague, but the whole point is that Gentoo isn't |
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focused on a particular set of applications. So the challenge is to get the |
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description as open-ended as possible while at the same time meeting the |
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UST&PO's requirements of having a description that is not vague. |
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|
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2) Progress on getting the "g" logo registered isn't going as well. The |
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UST&PO wants a black and white, non-dithered version of the logo, which of |
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course doesn't exist, and if it did exist would not look like our friendly |
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"g" logo anyway (so I'm not sure how valuable the registered trademark would |
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be even if we got it.) The UST&PO will only register trademarks that can be |
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represented in black and white without shading, and the "g" logo is clearly |
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not in this category. My lawyers are happy to keep trying to get it |
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registered (and charging me/us several thousand dollars for their time) but |
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this doesn't seem like a smart course of action. |
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|
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What I plan to do: stop trying to register the "g" logo and just follow |
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through and get the "gentoo" name registered. This also seems to make sense |
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seeing that the Gentoo Web site redesign is underway and it looks like we |
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will be getting a new logo for Gentoo anyway. We can still use copyright to |
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protect misuse of the "g" logo, and still use it as a trademark, just not a |
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registered one. |
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|
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Also, since these bills do end up being quite significant when totalled up, |
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I am going to try to keep the Foundation informed of all the Foundation and |
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trademark-related legal expenses. Right now, the foundation has an |
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outstanding bill from Wayne Chew of $646.73 for assistance related to |
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setting up the Foundation. I will use Store donations as well as some money |
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from the Store to pay this off, and give you a break-down of donations to |
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date when I do this. |
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|
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The trademark registration (handled by peacocklaw.com) is still getting |
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billed to Gentoo Technologies, Inc. I'll keep you informed of amounts and |
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use the donation money set aside to also help with the cost. The Store will |
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chip in with financial assistance when it can. |
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|
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Regards, |
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|
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Daniel |
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|
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|
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-- |
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gentoo-trustees@g.o mailing list |