[legal] Questions about OpenID Europe Trademark Policy

[Carsten Pötter]

I have just learned that there is a draft for an OpenID Europe Trademark and
Logo Policy (http://www.openideurope.eu/policies/openid-trademark-policy/).
And quite frankly, I am confused. It's possible that I have misunderstood
certain aspects, so here are a few points and questions:

1) If I use the OpenID logo on blog posts I have to use the logo with the TM
symbol.
2) The logo has to be clickable, linking back to openideurope.eu.
3) In order to use the SpreadOpenID.org domain we need written permission by
OpenID Europe.
4) The logo on SpreadOpenID.org has to change.

First, it is quite confusing that there is no note that the trademark and
logo policy is still a draft. Anyway, while I know that
openideurope.euexists, I haven't paid much attention to it yet. Call
it ignorance or
whatever, but I have always browsed openid.net when looking for information
on OpenID. I guess that applies to most people in Europe.

The TM logo: That logo is hardly known in the OpenID community which might
be due to the low profile of openideurope.eu. So why introduce a new logo to
use when it is not known? If OpenID Europe hired a law firm it could send
cease and desist letters by the hundreds.

Clickable logo: I'm in Germany so I am expected to link back to
openideurope.eu when using the logo. That would simply confuse readers.
According to my log files my readers are from all over the world, mostly
from the US actually. Why should they be directed to openideurope.eu instead
of openid.net? I am sure that won't help spreading the word about OpenID.
Do I have to write OpenID™ in blog posts and linking to
openideurope.euinstead of just OpenID and linking to
openid.net? That was just consistent.

Admittedly it's been a rather bold move by us to use the
spreadopenid.orgdomain. Can we get a permission once the policy is in
action? Do we have to
remove the logo? Well, we want to change the theme anyway. Maybe the logo
will be dropped then, too.

Thanks for your attention
Carsten

-- 
http://www.notsorelevant.com
http://spreadopenid.org
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