From owner-freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Feb 14 00:55:18 2005 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 63CAF16A4CE for ; Mon, 14 Feb 2005 00:55:18 +0000 (GMT) Received: from smtp11.wanadoo.fr (smtp11.wanadoo.fr [193.252.22.31]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1A2F643D31 for ; Mon, 14 Feb 2005 00:55:18 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from atkielski.anthony@wanadoo.fr) Received: from me-wanadoo.net (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mwinf1108.wanadoo.fr (SMTP Server) with ESMTP id EE25E1C00084 for ; Mon, 14 Feb 2005 01:55:16 +0100 (CET) Received: from pix.atkielski.com (ASt-Lambert-111-2-1-3.w81-50.abo.wanadoo.fr [81.50.80.3]) by mwinf1108.wanadoo.fr (SMTP Server) with ESMTP id CCBFB1C00082 for ; Mon, 14 Feb 2005 01:55:16 +0100 (CET) X-ME-UUID: 20050214005516838.CCBFB1C00082@mwinf1108.wanadoo.fr Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 01:55:16 +0100 From: Anthony Atkielski X-Priority: 3 (Normal) Message-ID: <56478844.20050214015516@wanadoo.fr> To: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: FreeBSD trademark status X-BeenThere: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: freebsd-advocacy@freebsd.org List-Id: FreeBSD Evangelism List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 00:55:18 -0000 Here's the official status of the FreeBSD trademark, FYI: ============== Typed Drawing ------------------------------------------------------------------ Word Mark: FREEBSD Goods and Services: IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: CD ROMs featuring an archive of computer programs which may be accessed for use. FIRST USE: 19930831. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19930831 Mark Drawing Code: (1) TYPED DRAWING Serial Number: 74546171 Filing Date: July 6, 1994 Current Filing Basis: 1A Original Filing Basis: 1A Published for Opposition: November 21, 1995 Registration Number: 1955727 Registration Date: February 13, 1996 Owner (REGISTRANT): WALNUT CREEK CDROM, INCORPORATED CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 3623 SANFORD ST. CONCORD (LAST LISTED OWNER): FREEBSD FOUNDATION, THE NON PROFIT COLORADO 7321 BROCKWAY DRIVE BOULDER COLORADO 80303 Assignment Recorded: ASSIGNMENT RECORDED Type of Mark: TRADEMARK Register: PRINCIPAL Affidavit Text: SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). Live/Dead Indicator: LIVE =============== Notice that the registered trademark covers only an "archive of computer programs" on CD-ROM. It says nothing about an operating system. This means that someone can still use the FreeBSD mark to designate an operating system as a separate trademark. I wonder why such a restrictive scope was given to the original trademark. Was FreeBSD already a complete operating system in 1993? Note also that trademarks must be actively defended, otherwise they pass into the public domain, registration or not. -- Anthony