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

Fri Nov 18 10:59:17 PST 2011

On 11/18/2011 07:27 PM, Frank Warmerdam wrote:
> Frans,
> 
> The foss4g.org domain is now managed by OSGeo (the system
> administration committee).  We have just been making year based
> subdomains for the new "main" FOSS4G events; however, I
> wouldn't personally mind having some links to other events using
> the FOSS4G name.
> 
> I do not think we should be registering lots of country specific
> foss4g domains though obviously local chapters can act under
> their own initiative in such matters.
> 
> I understand Bruce's concerns, but OSGeo was permitted to use
> the FOSS4G brand with the understanding that we would not act
> to restrict it's use in other local events so I am not interested in
> trying to keep it's use exclusive.  I would encourage adding something
> to make local events a bit distinct.  (ie. FOSS4G CEE 2012 for the
> planned event in central/eastern europe).
> 
> Best regards,
> Frank

Let's see whether we can get another angle on this. Imagine we were a
large car manufacturer (say Mercedes Benz), then we would have many car
dealers under the star all over the world (that are the businesses). And
we would appear at the IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, but also at the
Detroit Motor Show (these are our conferences). Get the picture?

Now, OSGeo is not just one car dealer but an umbrella for all (maybe
alternatively fueled vehicles, whatever?) and it has (owns) one highly
recognizable brand: "FOSS4G". All that we (OSGeo) want to make sure is
that the brand is clearly focused on Free and Open Source geospatial.
That's all. I have no qualms whatsoever if we have a dozen FOSS4G all
over the world (and we are almost there already anyway). Maybe we just
need to be a little more confident that it will work out. All the energy
that I have seen around the globe this year makes me think that we are
in for another exponential growth year [1].

Cheers,
Arnulf

[1] http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Executive_Report_from_the_President_2009

> On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 12:03 AM, Frans Thamura <frans at meruvian.org> wrote:
>> based on history
>>
>> who will manage the domain, and what is the different between global FOSS4G
>> event vs country's chapter FOSS4G?
>>
>> and how a local chapter event can be show in foss4g.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 2:42 PM, Venkatesh Raghavan
>> <raghavan at media.osaka-cu.ac.jp> wrote:
>>>
>>> Mori-san,
>>>
>>> Nice to relive the 2004 Bangkok nostalgia!
>>>
>>> And FOSS4G related papers that we co-authored back in 2004 that can be
>>> viewed at the links below;
>>>
>>>
>>> http://dlisv03.media.osaka-cu.ac.jp/infolib/user_contents/kiyo/DB00011169.pdf
>>> http://gisws.media.osaka-cu.ac.jp/grass04/viewpaper.php?id=35
>>>
>>> And the more about the history of foss4g.org domain in thread below;
>>>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/conference_dev/2007-October/000405.html
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/conference_dev/2007-August/000379.html
>>>
>>> Best
>>>
>>> Venka
>>>
>>> On 2011/11/18 15:20, "Toru Mori (森 亮)" wrote:
>>>
>>> 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
>>>> <mailto: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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> 

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