[OSGeo-Discuss] Confusion in the FOSS4G brand [was Mapnik (GPX) vs MapServer/GeoServer (OGC)] [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

["Toru Mori (森 亮)"]

Bruce,

Venka used the word "FOSS4G" in 2004 in Bangkok Thailand first time ever on globe, 2 years before the international conference in Lausanne. (Please see attached photo)
As a person co-working with Venka (inventor of "FOSS4G")  for many years, I know he says that FOSS4G can be used by everybody who promotes "foss4g tools". So there is no restriction in using "FOSS4G" brand as long as promoting foss4g tools.
It has been already used by many local chapters, conferences and communities. FOSS4G belongs to wider community, not to just only one "regal organization".

If you think "FOSS4G" should be used for only  "international conference",  I would suggest you come up with another naming, instead of FOSS4G.

Toru Mori
OSGeo Japan/ Organizer of FOSS4G 2008-2011 Tokyo/Osaka

On 2011/11/18, at 14:13, Bruce Bannerman wrote:

> I don’t like the idea of having multiple variants to the FOSS4G name.
> 
> I believe that it weakens and detracts from the value of FOSS4G as **the** international event that brings open source spatial people together in a ‘gathering of the tribes’.
> 
> As a former organiser of FOSS4G-2009, if I was faced with the opportunity to again host the prestigious FOSS4G event, as things stand at present I would not get involved. This is due to the weakening of the brand and confusion in the marketplace. For example, do I go to FOSS4G, FOSS4G.AU, FOSS4G.US, FOSS4G.UK, FOSS4G.ID etc etc? What is the difference between them?
> 
> 
> We have colleagues who are trying to organise FOSS4G-2012. All of this discussion is making their job much, much harder than it needs to be. 
> 
> Lets get behind them and support their hard work. It is certainly not easy to organise such an event and takes considerable effort and devotion.
> 
> 
> By all means hold regional events. These are very important for spreading information.
> 
> But please let’s find a different name.
> 
> 
> Bruce Bannerman
> 
> 
> 
> On 18/11/11 3:38 PM, "Frans Thamura" <frans at meruvian.org> wrote:
> 
> got another idea
> 
> should we buy foss4g.or.id <http://foss4g.or.id>  for indonesia, and foss4g.jp <http://foss4g.jp>  for japan?
> 
> but i love have a consolidation work together
> 
> F
> 
> 
> On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 11:38 AM, Frans Thamura <frans at meruvian.org> wrote:
> > i want to bring FOSS4G to bigger one, all related to GIS.. but based on Open.
> 
> I definitely second this.
> Without this concept, we would be isolated ourself from whole geospatial ocean.
> 
> 
> thx toru-san ..
> 
> that will be honour for me to create FOSS4G Indonesia, i believe can start next year.. :) 
> 
> this is bigger scope and better value to conduct it
> 
> but i still get unanswer question regarding to FOSS4G.org, why tokyo and osaka & korea are not in the website.
> 
> which venka said that open to anyone to create local event using FOSS4G name.
> 
> I think that will be cool, if here we can have subdomain, like jp.foss4g.org <http://jp.foss4g.org>  or id.foss4g.org <http://id.foss4g.org>  (indonesia)
> 
> so all consolidated there..
> 
> any idea for this request
> 
> and i see also foss4g.org <http://foss4g.org>  main website need touch to make it better, to bring wave to the world.
> 
> any idea all?
> 
> F 
> 
> 
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