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