[Wikimedia-l] Fwd: [Toolserver-l] [TS logo] Fwd: Free as in Wikimedia Foundation

[Samuel Klein]

[Forwarding from the the toolserver-l branch of this thread]


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Daniel Schwen <lists at schwen.de>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Toolserver-l] [TS logo] Fwd: Free as in Wikimedia Foundation
To: Wikimedia Toolserver <toolserver-l at lists.wikimedia.org>

What a nonsense issue. This superfluous discussion is fueled by two
fallacies, the confusion of copyright and trademarking and an
unhealthy paranoia toward the foundation. Protection of logos
associated with the wikimedia community is a good thing. The
foundation is an asset to the community! They can offer legal support
in cases of abuse of wikimedia related symbology. It is absurd to
create a spectre of a community-suing evil foundation while at the
same tie ignoring the very real threat of dilution and abuse of
wikimedia symbols and resulting damage of wikimedia community
reputation by spam, phishing, link farming etc. sites.
Sorry, but this is alarmist hippie crap and typical "netizen-outrage".


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Marc A. Pelletier <marc at uberbox.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Toolserver-l] [TS logo] Fwd: Free as in Wikimedia Foundation

On 03/19/2013 11:35 AM, Daniel Schwen wrote:
> Sorry, but this is alarmist hippie crap and typical "netizen-outrage".

I'm not sure I'd have put it in such strong words, but I agree that this
is very much overblown and misguided.

It's important that any marks not be misused for "evil" purposes, and
Trademark is the method to prevent it.  That the foundation is willing
to step up and handle the legalities is a /good/ thing.

Making sure nobody can use a mark for bad reasons *means* having to okay
proposed uses.  If you want something "everyone can use without asking
for any reason", you'll get something everyone *will* use for reasons
you wish they wouldn't -- and then have no way to stop them.

-- Coren / Marc


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