[indiana-discuss] Re: [indiana=discuss] Name of Distro?

[Doug Scott]

Stephen Lau wrote:
> Doug Scott wrote:
>> Shawn Walker wrote:
>>> On 20/06/07, Simon Phipps <webmink at sun.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 21, 2007, at 02:24, Shawn Walker wrote:
>>>> > I just think that a project that is supposedly by the community
>>>> > (Indiana) should have to follow the same rules as the rest of the
>>>> > community.
>>>>
>>>> I agree with that. But how about if those rules changed? There are a
>>>> few boundaries imposed by US and other trademark law, but it's
>>>> plausible that we could ask Sun to change the rules.
>>>
>>> That's my main sticking point with it at the moment. If Indiana is a
>>> community project, it should follow the same rules the rest of the
>>> community has to follow.
>>>
>> Shawn,
>>   playing by the rules,  Sun own the right by law to call anything 
>> they want as Solaris or OpenSolaris. No other entity has this right, 
>> thus they can not use the name. Let just get on with life, and 
>> produce code!
>
> Which means Sun is making a unilateral decision that adversely affects 
> the community, which makes Sun a poor community member.  Putting on my 
> Sun employee hat, I don't like that.  Putting on my OpenSolaris core 
> contributor hat, I don't like that.  And putting on my OGB hat, I like 
> that even less.

Steve could you quantify how Sun calling something OpenSolaris would 
affect the community? The link is poor as most people think outside of 
the community that OpenSolaris is actually linked to the Sun product 
called Solaris. Personally I do no think this as a really big issue, and 
has far too my packets wasted on the issue. Also I really do not care 
whether Sun enforce or give up their rights. It is up to who is 
currently in charge of Sun.

> I'm opposed to any action that makes Sun look like a prick who doesn't 
> care about the community.  It reflects poorly on me, regardless of 
> what hat I'm wearing.

Hats aside, While many people call Sun a prick (IBM, HP & Dell 
included). I find this a little harsh as it is their property. I will 
not judge 'you' (or Sun) harshly what-ever way Sun make their own 
decision on what is theirs. Nor should anybody else.

>>> If we can change those rules such that all projects can do the same
>>> thing, then great!
>>
>> It is up to Sun what they want to do with 'their' trademarks. The 
>> rule is in their favour. Currently I do not see anybody from other 
>> OpenSolaris  distribution complaining about the issue. Let just move 
>> on, life is short and talk is too cheap!
>
> Sure, Sun can do it - but should they?  Nobody is arguing about 
> whether or not they can... but whether or not they should.
>
> It's within your rights (whether constitutional, human, whatever) to 
> do many things - but it doesn't mean you should because it reflects on 
> who you are.  It's no different for Sun at the corporate level.

In the larger community I think this issue is like a grain of sand. Let 
Sun make the decision about what is theirs and let just get on with what 
they have given us so far.

Doug