Linus Trademarks Linux
Forum: News
Topic: Linus Trademarks Linux
started by: SaidinUnleashed
Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Aug. 19 2005,23:48
Evidently, the head man himself, Linus Torvalds has decided to start charging companies for the use of the Linux name, to the tune of $5,000 American.< http://theinquirer.net/?article=25529 >
Personally, I see this as shooting himself in the foot.
Opinions, please.
-J.P.
Posted by adraker on Aug. 20 2005,01:00
Thats...disturbing.There is no mention of it at Linux.org.au.
So does this mean you can't use the word Linux
in a company or product name without coughing up
5 Gs ?
What are we coming to.....
Posted by dougvega on Aug. 20 2005,01:11
for what I understand Mr. Torvalds is not stopping anybody from using Linux software , it appears to me that he just wants to protect the "LINUX" trademark it seems that too many companies are jumping in the bandwagon and calling their software LINUX this LINUX that , and charging a hefty price for that .or maybe is time to move forward on to something newer like lets say "HURD"
my two cents anyway.
Posted by adssse on Aug. 20 2005,04:06
I recently watched the movie 'Revolution OS', which is a few years old, but I thought he talked about something similar to this and basically said that he had no problem with people using the word Linux in their product names. I guess he changed his mind or I misunderstood.
Posted by cbagger01 on Aug. 22 2005,16:35
The problem seems to be that some companies can use the Linux name for bad purposes. For example, there are some "Linux" magazines out there that are really not Linux magazines but instead are anti-linux propaganda funded by Microsoft.If you don't protect the "Linux" trademark, then it means that bad people can abuse it and the owner has no way of preventing this.
Hopefully this storm will pass over us because for many months now, the official product name is "DSL" instead of "Damn Small Linux ®"
Posted by jshaw on Aug. 23 2005,03:55
According to this < article > the fee is between $200 and $5000. I'm sure a "license DSL fundraiser" could occur if need be. josh
Posted by DeeJay on Aug. 23 2005,10:24
This seems like Old News to me. Eight years old, almost to the day. See - http://www2.linuxjournal.com/article/2559The terms for use of Linux as a trademark (as distinct from simply using it in writing, so I'm in the clear... ) can be found at - < http://www.linuxmark.org/ >
If they haven't already, perhaps Robert and John and others in the 'core' DSL team should consider whether to formally acknowledge the ownership of the Linux name, as documented at - < http://www.linuxmark.org/attribution.html > . Doing that is free, and would demonstrate 'Good Faith' (not that anyone with any linux/oss knowledge would have any grain of doubt.)