On Friday 27 July 2007 12:23:28 Daniel Kinzler wrote:
b) make the logos free content, and rely on trademark
law to protect them
against abuse. This would in theory be the best solution IMHO, but does not
seem feasible in practice (trademark registration is per country, for a
limited time, for a limited purpose, harder to enforce, and quite expensive
if done for all logos in many countries).
Indeed that's the very problem. And relying on moral rights (which could be an
option too) is a bit too weak for the Foundation.
But I have a third option:
How about creating a "community" icon? An icon that can be used by anyone who
likes, supports, reuses, whatever the project?
I'd say: Interested talented people just start creating a Wikimedia Commons
community icon which is reusable under CC-BY (any version). Everyone who
think using it for his work is apropriate can use it.
I envision a relaxed logo alternative like the famous Tux logo. Tux is
perfectly associated with Linux (and only "Linux" the word is a trademark)
but none makes any trouble if someone reuses it in another context for his
own purpose.
So let us create a cute Wikimedia Commons community logo and then we'll see
which logo wins, and which logo makes a stronger and more living Commons
brand: The current restriced one or the free one.
And after this bold test the Foundation can evaluate if they want a second
community icon for Wikipedia and others too or if it is better beeing more
relaxed with the current Wikipedia icon. :p
Cheers, Arnomane