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Thanks Jeroen for bringing this forward.<br>
I've updated the foss4g cookbook to include mention of OSGeo
branding.<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 18/09/2014 3:03 am, Jeroen Ticheler
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:C32FBC62-074B-48B0-A89E-228C4B0B1D6A@mac.com"
type="cite">
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Hi all,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>In the past we have had discussions on the different
mailinglists about the FOSS4G trademark and if there is an owner
for this or not. I'd like to bring this up again since I think
it is relevant in the context of the discussions about e.g. a
relationship / collaboration between OSGeo and LocationTech. It
would be good if the existing disambiguates would be resolved
:-)<br>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>History has it that OSGeo takes the lead in organizing the
annual global event under the name FOSS4G. Local conferences
can also use FOSS4G in their name. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>There is not a clear event policy for the use of the FOSS4G
brandname. Reading the Official OSGeo Event Policy [1], you
are safe to use it as long as this has been approved by the
OSGeo board. The OSGeo Conference Policy page [2] doesn't
provide much more information, except that history has shown
OSGeo runs the conferences according to the described
"vanilla" FOSS4G model. The FOSS4G Cookbook actually leaves
the decision to the Conference Committee [3] stating "<i>Use
of the name "FOSS4G" is managed by the OSGeo Conference
Committee. As a courtesy, events which wish to make use of
the "FOSS4G" name should request permission to do so from
the conference committee. Permission will be granted if the
event being described is predominantly (say >90%) about
Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial.</i>"</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Venka Raghavan and Shinji Masumoto agreed to donate the <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://foss4g.org">foss4g.org</a>
domain name to OSGeo on 3rd October 2007 with the understanding
that there will be no restrictions on the free usage of the
FOSS4G acronym for the legitimate purpose of promoting Free and
Open Source Software for Geoinformatics. [4]</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>So from a historical perspective OSGeo is the effective
trademark holder of FOSS4G and the board or conference committee
votes who can use it or not. Except (and this is crucial I
think!) that there is an understanding that "<i>there will be no
restrictions on the free usage of the FOSS4G acronym ... etc
...</i>".</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It would really help if Venka and Shinji amend the agreement
so that OSGeo is the sole entity that can decide who is allowed
to use the FOSS4G trademark or not. This doesn't mean OSGeo
should change its policy, after all the foundation has as its
core mandate to promote FOSS for Geospatial.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Removing this issue will help OSGeo when collaborations /
MoU's are discussed. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It will also ensure that the relationship between OSGeo and a
LOC is clearer. The LOC should follow certain requirements OSGeo
puts up (such as having a booth, having a very clear OSGeo
marketing strategy (marketing the OSGeo brand at FOSS4G),
etcetera). This has been an issue with almost all conferences.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It would also help to protect OSGeo's financial interest in
the conferences, ensuring the proceedings benefit the foundation
as much as possible. This has so far never been a real problem,
we've had great LOC's with fantastic, responsible teams.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>As a consequence, OSGeo could actually decide to invest let's
say $15k to employ a person parttime to assist the LOC and PCO.
Some more resources could be invested in ensuring we run a
conference website that is reused every year. It could take a
lot of load off the LOC and help continuity.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>OSGeo has a vested interest in running the annual FOSS4G
event effectively and ensuring LOC's won't burn out easily. And
frankly, if OSGeo can't have the guarantees it requires to be
the sole, unrestricted owner of the FOSS4G trademark, I think we
shouldn't be scared of using another name for the annual
conference (nor local ones that wish to associate themselves
with OSGeo).</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks,</div>
<div>Jeroen</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>1[<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Official_OSGeo_Event_Policy">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Official_OSGeo_Event_Policy</a>]</div>
<div>2[<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Conference_Policy#Partnership_and_Profit">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Conference_Policy#Partnership_and_Profit</a>]</div>
<div>3[<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_Cookbook#FOSS4G_Brand">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G_Cookbook#FOSS4G_Brand</a>]</div>
<div>4[<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G#History_of_foss4g.org_domain_name">http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G#History_of_foss4g.org_domain_name</a>]</div>
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</blockquote>
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