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Re: GNU, the "UNIX" trademark, and legal control over language
From: |
John Hasler |
Subject: |
Re: GNU, the "UNIX" trademark, and legal control over language |
Date: |
Sat, 26 Jan 2008 07:50:28 -0600 |
User-agent: |
Gnus/5.11 (Gnus v5.11) Emacs/22.1 (gnu/linux) |
mike3 writes:
> Why can't GNU systems, BSD systems, etc. be called "unix systems" in
> everyday conversational language?
They can.
> How does The Open Group's ownership of the UNIX(R) trademark trample on
> our ability to use "unix systems" in everyday conversational English?
It doesn't. A trademark owner has no power to limit use of his mark in
everyday conversation.
> Is the US Government, and perhaps those of other countries, (maybe even
> international treaty!) actually capable of regulating the language like
> that?
The US government is not. I can't say about others.
> I, personally, do not think a government should be able to control the
> language in this way.
The US government can't (and doesn't try).
> ...trademarking has to do, or at least _should_ have to do, with the
> names one markets a product under...
It does.
> ...not what names we should choose to use to refer to something in our
> everyday speech.
It doesn't.
--
John Hasler
john@dhh.gt.org
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI USA