[Board] [OSGeo-Conf] Using the FOSS4G brand
Seven (aka Arnulf)
seven at arnulf.us
Thu Nov 21 02:18:47 PST 2013
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Sigh,
this topic seems to be so contentious that everybody is bringing in
their own ideas, fears and ambitions.
One last time: All I am suggesting is that we have one central point of
contact where people are kindly requested to communicate that they will
make an event. Call it "FOSS4G", fine. Call it "FOSSGIS", also fine.
Call it "The Gigantic Geospatial Open Sourcerers" - also fine. But
*please* make sure that your event does not overlap with another event
close by taking place at the same date. Simple as that. It has happened
before, I am talking from experience. Nobody died but there were some
injuries and it could have been avoided by being just this little bit
more open in communication up front. Come on guys, it is still:
PUBLISH EARLY
RELEASE OFTEN
Heard that before? It applies to conference organization just like it
does for Open Source software.
I don't think that evil corp will steal the FOSS4G brand. And if they do
they will have a nasty waking up later on. No worries here. But with
more proliferation of events we are in danger of diluting our limited
resources, creating unnecessary overlap and confusing the market.
We are not being professional and we are wasting an opportunity. Simple
as that. So be it.
Having said this I close this topic and am done with it.
Thank you for your time,
Seven.
On 20.11.2013 19:06, Frank Warmerdam wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I concur with Venkatesh - we don't own FOSS4G and should not imagine we
> can control it like a trademark. If <random-evil-company> wants to hold
> a conference about <random-proprietary-technology> and call it FOSS4G we
> can't really stop that. All we can do is provide some influence if they
> would like to associate it with OSGeo.
>
> Lets not overreach ourselves.
>
> On the other hand, there may be things we can do to better support these
> conferences, and improve coordination. I'm all for that. Lets just be
> very cautious about imagining there is control.
>
> Best regards,
> Frank
>
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 8:32 AM, Venkatesh Raghavan
> <venka.osgeo at gmail.com <mailto:venka.osgeo at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> I think this discussion has been done before
> in discuss [1] and board lists.
> History of FOSS4G is documented at [2] and [3]
>
> FOSS4G refers a philosophy/concept/technology and
> cannot be branded. Since it existed before the
> formation of OSGeo foundation, OSGeo foundation
> cannot/need not claim ownership to FOSS4G.
>
> Hoping see more FOSS4G in the bazaar.
>
> Best
>
> Venka
>
> [1]http://lists.osgeo.org/__pipermail/discuss/2011-__November/009759.html
> <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/discuss/2011-November/009759.html>
> [2]http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/__FOSS4G
> <http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G>
> [3]http://lists.osgeo.org/__pipermail/discuss/2011-__November/009762.html
> <http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/discuss/2011-November/009762.html>
>
>
>
> On 2013/11/20 18:47, Seven (aka Arnulf) wrote:
>
> Folks,
> there has been some confusion around the brand FOSS4G, how to
> organize
> local conferences in general, how to link back to OSGeo and so on.
>
> As a result of these ongoings I suggest that OSGeo take more
> ownership
> of the brand FOSS4G. The main reason is to avoid confusion, improve
> transparency and make sure that the name FOSS4G continues to
> stand for
> quality events.
>
> Therefore I suggest that anybody who wants to use the name
> FOSS4G has to
> first ask/announce this on this mailing list *before* making it
> a public
> event, sign any contracts, etc.
>
> What is "ask/announce"? Not sure, we may need to better define.
> From a
> do-ocratic [1] point of view anybody should be allowed to go
> ahead. At
> the same time we should strive to avoid conflicts with other events
> close by, go easy on volunteer resources, etc. Maybe we can
> implement a
> very simple rule: If nobody complains / raises issues within two
> weeks
> of announcing on the Conference-dev list the organizer can go ahead.
>
> Later we may also want to make sure (make it a rule) that a trusted
> OSGeo person is part of the LOC.
>
> What is a "trusted OSGeo person"? Anybody with an official role,
> be it
> board, committee, or chair. If necessary we have to clarify.
> Again, I'd
> like to keep it simple...
>
> Once we have talked about this here and if we agree I would like
> to make
> this a motion to be approved by the Board at one of their next
> meetings.
>
> A general question is whether the conference committee is
> prepared to
> take on this additional job at all. It appears to be the best
> place but
> if you think this belongs elsewhere please advise.
>
> Best regards,
> Arnulf
>
> [1] http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Do-__ocracy
> <http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Do-ocracy>
>
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>
>
> --
> ---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
> I set the clouds in motion - turn up | Frank Warmerdam,
> warmerdam at pobox.com <mailto:warmerdam at pobox.com>
> light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
> and watch the world go round - Rush | Geospatial Software Developer
>
>
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- --
Exploring Space, Time and Mind
http://arnulf.us
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