[Foundation-l] New Meta-Wiki logo - Approved?

[Florence Devouard]

David Levy wrote:
> Following a one-week poll, Meta-Wiki has switched to a different logo.
>  I like the design, but I have a major concern regarding its copyright
> status.
> 
> The icon (available at Commons as Image:Wikimedia Community Logo.svg)
> was released by its creator into the public domain.  My understanding
> is that each project's logo _must_ be copyrighted by the Wikimedia
> Foundation and _not_ be available under a free license or in the
> public domain, thereby ensuring that its use is legally restricted to
> the identification of said project.
> 
> Anyone can legally use the new Meta-Wiki logo for any purpose without
> any conditions, so there's nothing to ensure that it will remain a
> unique identifier and not be utilized in contexts of which the
> Foundation disapproves.  It could legally be used as the logo for a
> non-Wikimedia wiki (thereby implying affiliation), a pizza shop, a
> product appearing on store shelves, a pornography website, a racist
> organization, or anything else.
> 
> I wonder whether someone from the Foundation's legal department or
> public relations department was consulted.  I'm worried that the idea
> might have been implemented without the knowledge of those with the
> authority to approve it.  I raised this issue on the poll's talk page
> [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta_talk:Babel/Metawiki_logo_poll#Copyright_status],
> and thus far, the only response is a claim that I'm mistaken about the
> requirements.
> 
> Can anyone shed some light on this?


Hello,

The Foundation is aware that the community logo was PD. It was done on 
purpose so that the community could use a logo without having to request 
authorization.

As for the decision to switch meta from the Foundation logo to the 
community logo, I think I remember that the vote was announced on this 
list, so that the Foundation had the opportunity to jump in.

Ant