[GRASS5] [jberry@innovativegis.com: MapCalc trade name]

[Markus Neteler]

On Sat, Oct 28, 2000 at 10:45:24AM +0200, Roger Bivand wrote:
> Markus:
> 
> I guess that r.mapcalc is more like a function name within the GRASS
> environment than a specific brand name as such. Our "brand" is GRASS, and
> the question of replying to the MapCalc issue also raises "our" rights to
> the GRASS trade name. There must be some advice to be had for Open Source
> projects in general - does the agreement between CERL and the GRASS
> community give us a lead - maybe even the MapCalc thing is already
> answered in that document. Is it online?
This document should be available at Baylor University.
I haven't seen it yet. Bruce, could you make it available for the
developers?
 
> A side issue is that the MAP code is also extant or replicated in OSUNAP,
> and through MAP II, in Map Factory and its successor MF Works, a good and
> intuitive raster system we've used for teaching for years on Macs. So I
> think that the issue here is that this company would like to use MapCalc
> as a trade name, and are being professional in finding out whether this is
> a problem for us. I think that is laudable, and maybe a concilatory answer
> may help to build bridges (thinking aloud - they might like to have their
> database files at least readable by GDAL for r.in.gdal, so that scholars
> could use r.mapcalc in GRASS to replicate/verify what the closed code
> commercial product is doing). So if the CERL agreement isn't a problem,
> I'd suggest a friendly tone and finding things in common.
> 
> We still need to secure the GRASS trade name, though, don't we? Maybe it
> is appropriately protected? Is this an issue?
As far as I know "GRASS" is a registered trademark by CERL. At least
this is stated in GRASS Prog. Manual (I have to search for the page).
And it was in the GRASS 4.x entry screen. We should take over this
trademark for the "GRASS Development Team" as successor of the CERL
issues (if that's possible from the legal side) to protect the term.
Or can we involve the FSF somehow (www.fsf.org)?

Thanks for your comments, Roger!

 Markus

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