Talk:Lutz Hoeger

Trademark Policies in Open Source Projects

Comparison

+/- = links to details!

	OpenOffice.org	ubuntu	fedora	Firefox
(tm) in logo	-	-	+	+
tm notice on homepage	-	+	-	-
link to tm policy on homepage	-	-	+	+
search result for tm	-	+	+	+
tm policy / logo guide easy to read	+	+	-	+
tm policy / logo guide clear and complete	-	-	+	+

Summary

• OpenOffice.org

  - no trademark sign (tm) in OOo logo

  - no trademark notice on homepage

  - no trademark link on homepage

  - search results for "trademark" are useless

  - trademark / logo usage guidelines cover almost nothing

• ubuntu (ubuntu.com)

  - no trademark sign (tm) in ubuntu logo

  + trademark notice on homepage

  - no trademark link on homepage

  + search results for "trademark": first hit success

  + trademark/logo guidelines are short and easy to read

  - trademark/logo guidelines somewhat ambiguous (may be mistaken as liberal)

• fedora (fedoraproject.org)

  + trademark sign (tm) in fedora logo

  - no trademark notice on homepage

  + trademark link on homepage

  + search results for "trademark": second hit success

  - trademark/logo guidelines are lengthy and sound a little too legal

  + trademark/logo guidelines are very precise

• Firefox (mozilla.com)

  + trademark sign (tm) in Firefox logo

  - no trademark notice on homepage

  + trademark link on homepage

  + search results for "trademark": second hit success

  + trademark/logo guidelines are short and easy to read

  + trademark/logo guidelines are very precise

Glossary

Trademark, Logo, Visual Identity, Policy, Guideline

Using the Mozilla example, here is how information about trademarks can be organized

• Trademark Policy Documents
  • List of Trademarks
  • Trademark Policy
    • Trademark Policy for Software Distributors
    • Trademark Policy for Official Localization Teams
    • Website Policy for Localization Teams
  • Trademark Policy FAQ
  • Visual Identity Guidelines / Logo Guide