[fab] Fedora Logo Proposal: moving forward
Greg DeKoenigsberg
gdk at redhat.com
Tue Aug 8 18:52:54 UTC 2006
OK, so we've had a day or so to look over the proposal, and it seems like
no one is pulling hair or gnashing teeth over it. Therefore, I'm moving
on to the next step:
Taking it to counsel. (Dum-dum-DUUUUUM!)
I'll be working with counsel to nail down a version of the Acceptable Use
Policy that they can accept. I'll keep everyone informed as I move
forward.
--g
-------------------------------------------------------------
Greg DeKoenigsberg || Fedora Project || fedoraproject.org
Be an Ambassador || http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors
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On Mon, 7 Aug 2006, Greg DeKoenigsberg wrote:
>
> OK, we've danced around this for a while. Lots of good suggestions, but
> no one has really taken ownership of this -- largely because it's kind of
> hard to do, especially if you're not @redhat.com.
>
> So I sat down with Max today and we worked through some of the issues. We
> came up with a proposal to settle these issues once and for all. The goal
> is to have an actionable plan, that everyone agrees with, that we can
> implement quickly.
>
> If everyone agrees, I'll take it to counsel asap and we'll work out
> details.
>
> * * *
>
> The Basic Issues:
>
> There are two sets of issues. One set revolves around TRADEMARK
> PROTECTION. The other set revolves around POLICY OF USE. The two are
> related, but they are not the same.
>
> First of all, TRADEMARK PROTECTION. Because the Fedora logo is a
> registered trademark, this means that we must protect it -- specifically,
> that we must "police" it. What do we mean when we say "police" it?
> Simply, it means that we have guidelines for its use, and we're actually
> pursuing people who use the logo without adhering to the guidelines.
>
> Now, it's my understanding that these guidelines can be as liberal as we
> choose to make them, so long as (a) the guidelines are enforceable, and
> (b) we actually make the effort to enforce them. These guidelines are our
> POLICY OF USE.
>
> We've been arguing about this problem for months because it's a hard
> problem; our POLICY goal is to make the logo as ubiquitous as possible,
> but our LEGAL goal is to make the logo as easily policed as possible.
> These goals are to some degree contradictory.
>
> The key, we believe, is to make it as simple as possible to navigate
> through the guidelines -- even if the guidelines themselves are not
> simple.
>
> * * *
>
> Deliverable #0: Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).
>
> It all starts here. We need to nail down *exactly* what usages of the
> logo are allowed, and exactly what usages are not allowed. This may take
> further debate, but here's a start:
>
> LOGO USE AND SOFTWARE REDISTRIUBTION. The logo may be used by:
> * Anyone who redistributes Fedora Core as-is. No permission required.
> * Anyone who redistributes any functionally complete subset of packages
> from the Fedora Universe -- also known as an "official Fedora derivative".
> No permission required.
> * People who are redistributing something based on Fedora, but who are
> NOT following the above redistribution guidelines, may NOT use the Fedora
> logo. If they choose to use the text "based on Fedora," we won't stop
> them.
>
> LOGO USE FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES. The logo may be used by:
> * WEBSITE USE. Anyone who is using Fedora or its official Fedora
> derivatives may advertise this fact using the Fedora logo.
> * SCHWAG. Only members of the Fedora Ambassadors project may put the
> Fedora logo on physical promotional items.
>
> MISCELLANEOUS USES. If a user wishes to use the logo for a reason not
> enumerated, users may appeal directly to "logo at fedoraproject.org" for
> special dispensation to use the Fedora logo.
>
> * * *
>
> Deliverable #1: Fedora Logo Wizard.
>
> We'll develop our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) based on simple questions
> and a decision tree. Something like this:
> (clippy) I see you'd like to use the Fedora logo! Would you like some
> help?
>
> Are you redistributing Fedora?
> (yes) Have you modified any of the ISO images in any way? (no)
> Approved! (Logo_usage_ok_distribution)
> (yes) Did you make unacceptable change #1? (yes) Sorry, you can not
> use the Fedora logo, but... (Based_on_Fedora)
> (no) Did you make unacceptable change #2?
> (yes) Sorry, you can not use the Fedora logo, but...
> (Based_on_Fedora)
> (no) Did you make unacceptable change #n?
> (yes) Sorry...
> (no) Approved! (Logo_usage_ok_modification)
> (no) Are you promoting Fedora?
> (yes) Are you using the Fedora logo to sell goods?
>
> ...and so on and so forth. Basically, we should be able to ask a set of
> questions that lead the requestors to *precise* policy decisions. We
> should then collect their information in a simple database (read: flat
> text file). Whenever we see a questionable use, we refer to the
> "database" and act accordingly.
>
> * * *
>
> Deliverable #2: A "click through" for access to Fedora logo files.
>
> See, the problem here is that having a click-through for Fedora logos is
> basically useless. The simple fact is, people can go get Fedora logos
> from dozens of websites, or from the desktop itself, and they can make
> something that looks, for all the world, like an official Fedora logo.
> Therefore, it makes no sense to have a click-through to gain access to the
> "official logos" themselves.
>
> Better, we think, is to have one prominent page where all of the logo
> files live. At the very front of that page, we'd place a great big
> notice, impossible to miss:
>
> "Want to use these logos? Be sure to agree to THE SIMPLE TERMS (link).
> If you don't and we find out about it, we will ask you to stop using the
> logos. Why? Read more about TRADEMARK PROTECTION (link)."
>
> And then pages and pages of spiffy Fedora logos and official variants.
>
> * * *
>
> Deliverable #3: A Fedora Logo Project.
>
> This is beginning to look like a must-have. Everybody wants to play
> around with the logo for various reasons, all of them perfectly good
> reasons. They want a "powered by Fedora" button for their web server. Or
> they want a Fedora theme that incorporates their LUG logo as well.
>
> When we find a modified Fedora logo, here are our choices: 1. ignore it,
> in which case we're not policing the mark; 2. prohibit it, in which case
> we look like fascists; or 3. adopt it or explain in a friendly way why
> it's not appropriate. Option 3 is by far the best, but it requires a body
> that can serve effectively as arbiters, and is empowered to do so.
>
> My guess: this would be a subproject of the Fedora Art project.
>
> * * *
>
> Anyway, that's the proposal. If you have an objection, please be as
> specific as you can possibly be. We want to take action on this soon.
>
> --g
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Greg DeKoenigsberg || Fedora Project || fedoraproject.org
> Be an Ambassador || http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
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