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BlackBox Framework trademark

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:59 pm
by valexey
I think that we're missed something important — trademark issue. Who currently owns "BlackBox Framework" trademark? Who and how can use it?

Re: BlackBox Framework trademark

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:46 pm
by Romiras
BSD license doesn't restrict on usage of trademarks, doesn't it?

Anyway, you can ask OM.

Re: BlackBox Framework trademark

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:03 pm
by valexey
Romiras wrote:BSD license doesn't restrict on usage of trademarks, doesn't it?

Anyway, you can ask OM.
As I know - license does not cover the brand name/trademark.

For example, Haiku-os. It has MIT license (BSD like), but there are trademark restrictions:
https://www.haiku-os.org/about/trademark_policy

Also there are official documents about trademark/logos and so on:
http://www.haiku-inc.org/documents/haik ... 093759.pdf
http://www.haiku-inc.org/documents/haik ... 181779.pdf
http://www.haiku-inc.org/documents.html

Debian has the same trademark rules (as I know).

If nobody owns BBF trademark, and there are no restrictions, then it is possible to create many different incompatible BlackBoxes. And user will be confused.

Re: BlackBox Framework trademark

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:20 pm
by ReneK
Trademark laws was the reason why the OpenOffice off-spin LibreOffice could not use the name "OpenOffice".

So, yes, we will have to ask Oberon Microsystems AG how they plan to proceed with this.