[OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G.org domain

Fri Aug 31 12:10:20 EDT 2007

If FOSS4G is to be treated as a generic term and not a brand for our
conference, then I have to ask why we are using it.  It would make far
more sense to me to call the conference something like the "OSGeo
Annual".  Our use of "OSGeo" is free from encumbrances, and creates a
visibility feedback loop between the conference and the organisation.

This has come up several times in the past, but the discussion has not
gone anywhere.  Personally, I would like to see this important
visibility/branding issue revisited by a vote of the membership rather
than settled internal to a committee.

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: conference_dev-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:conference_dev-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Tyler
Mitchell (OSGeo)
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 08:49
To: conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
Cc: Toru Mori
Subject: [OSGeo-Conf] FOSS4G.org domain

Hi all,
FYI - As a follow up to recent questions on the discuss list, and on
this old thread from last year:
http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/conference_dev/2006-October/
000128.html I asked about OSGeo securing the foss4g.org domain.

In the message below, Venka describes the background behind the
foss4g.org web site and what it would take to secure the domain name.
I'll leave it to this committee to discuss the provisos.

Thanks for the clarification Venka,
Tyler

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "venka.osgeo" <venka.osgeo at gmail.com>
> Date: August 31, 2007 12:31:34 AM PDT (CA)
> To: "Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo)" <tmitchell at osgeo.org>
> Cc: Toru Mori <moritoru at orkney.co.jp>, Shinji Masumoto 
> <masumoto at sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp>
> Subject: Re: FOSS4G.org question..
>
> Hi Tyler,
>
> About the foss4g.org domain usage, we had a discussion on 27 August 
> 2007 here in Osaka with the people concerned.
>
> Some of the things about ownership of the domain etc. are a little 
> more complicated that what Mori-san mentioned so I would like to set 
> things right first.
>
> The foss4g.org (and grass-japan.org) domain was registered to make 
> available to the public the outcome of the project on 
> Internationalization of GRASS5.0 and Mapserver. The project was funded

> by IPA (Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan). The project 
> was carried in cooperation between Orkney (Mori's company) and Osaka 
> City University(OCU). Apart form software internationalization, OCU 
> was also responsible for testing, preparation of test data, sample 
> applications and implementation and management of the portal site. The

> main portal site is presently available at www.foss4g.org/FOSS4G/ (and

> also www.grass-japan.org/FOSS4G/
>
> The domains were registered in 2003 and the actual portal site started

> functioning in March 2004. Incidently, the acronym FOSS4G, was coined 
> (and popularized atleast around this part of the
> world) by me (Venka). The foss4g.org is now registered with Prof. 
> Shinji Masumoto and Venkatesh Raghavan.
>
> We are glad that the acronym FOSS4G has become popular the worldover 
> and feel that the OSGeo conference should continue under the same 
> name.
>
> With regards to transfer of FOSS4G domain to OSGeo, Prof. Shinji 
> Masumoto and myself will be willing agree for OSGeo to use and run the

> domain provided;
>
> a) The provinance of the FOSS4G acronym is properly mentioned and the 
> credit of coining the acronym is duly acknowledge on future foss4g.org

> site that would be managed by OSGeo.
>
> b) No restriction is made on the free usage of the FOSS4G acronym for 
> the legitimate purpose of promoting Free and Open Source Software for 
> Geoinformatics.
>
> c) OSGeo offer two complimentary registration passes future FOSS4G 
> Conferences (including
> workshop) to OSGeo-Japan. Usage of the complimentary pass would be 
> decided by OSGeo-Japan.
>
> Modalities to enable OSGeo to run this domain can be workedout in due 
> course, I think.
>
> Kind regards
>
> Venka
>
> Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
>> Is this topic, below, something that you could discuss at your 
>> meeting on Monday?  Does OSGeo Japan "own" foss4g.org?  If the 
>> conference continues to be named FOSS4G, would it be possible for 
>> OSGeo to buy/own/run this domain?
>> Sincerely,
>> Tyler
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>> From: "P Kishor" <punk.kish at gmail.com>
>>> Date: August 23, 2007 3:03:45 AM PDT (CA)
>>> To: "Bart van den Eijnden (OSGIS)" <bartvde at osgis.nl>,  "OSGeo 
>>> Discussions" <discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] domains
>>> Reply-To: punkish at eidesis.org, OSGeo Discussions 
>>> <discuss at lists.osgeo.org>
>>>
>>> wouldn't it be wiser to just have www.foss4g.org/2007 or /2008 and 
>>> so on? Right now the foss4g.org domain goes to a GRASS-Japan portal 
>>> site.
>>> Perhaps a little bit of negotiation...?
>>>
>>> On 8/23/07, Bart van den Eijnden (OSGIS) <bartvde at osgis.nl> wrote:
>>>> Is it not wise to already claim domains like foss4g2008.org and 
>>>> maybe even further down the line?
>>>>
>>>> Best regards,
>>>> Bart
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Bart van den Eijnden
>>>> OSGIS, Open Source GIS
>>>> http://www.osgis.nl
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Discuss mailing list
>>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/ Nelson Inst. for Env. 
>>> Studies http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/ Open Source Geospatial 
>>> Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/
>>> 2007 Summer S&T Policy Fellow, The National Academies http:// 
>>> www.nas.edu/ 
>>> ==========================================================
>>> collaborate, communicate, compete
>>> ==========================================================
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Discuss mailing list
>>> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>> Tyler Mitchell
>> Executive Director
>> Open Source Geospatial Foundation
>> tmitchell at osgeo.org
>> P: +1-250-277-1621
>> M: +1-250-303-1831
>

Tyler Mitchell
Executive Director
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
tmitchell at osgeo.org
P: +1-250-277-1621
M: +1-250-303-1831

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