[ogb-discuss] [trademark-policy-dev] [osol-discuss] [advocacy-discuss] Project Indiana and the OpenSolaris name

[Garrett D'Amore]

Shawn Walker wrote:
>
>> So, quite simply, I believe that there are only two ways forward:
>>
>> 1) Sun cedes complete control of the OpenSolaris mark to the community
>> (possibly establishing an actual non-profit to own/manage the mark)
>>     
>
> I don't think they can cede complete control unless we have a
> non-profit and that's just not necessary. Instead, clearly defined
> control over the trademark that they bind themselves would be more
> appropriate.
>
>   

What I've stipulated is, I don't think that Sun can be counted on to 
bind itself to a policy.  Even if it is the intent of the folks making 
the decisions *today* to do so, I would be unsurprised if marketing 
conditions change where Sun wants to do something *else* that isn't 
necessarily in line with whatever policy might be adopted.

I'm of the opinion that a non-profit foundation looks increasingly 
necessary.  Without it, we exist entirely at the pleasure of Sun.  I'm 
not sure that this is a good idea, even though I don't think Sun has 
anything but the community's best interests at heart.

A separate non-profit might make it possible for other corporate 
sponsors to participate in the project more fully.  Imagine, for 
example, if IBM decided they want to participate (imagine an IBM 
sponsored S/390 or POWER port.)  Right now there is not really a good 
way for them to do so. 

    -- Garrett