Comments on: Open letter to Red Hat about your logo “similarities” with the DataPortability Workgroup http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/ This is beyond marketing, it is manipulation Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:43:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Justin http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-41281 Justin Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:09:45 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-41281 Wow, Irish Jim, why are you so angry? Wow, Irish Jim, why are you so angry?

]]> By: Irish Jim http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-41277 Irish Jim Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:44:57 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-41277 I'm sorry Justin, but you're wrong. You clearly don't have an understanding of logo copyrights and trademarks. Talk to any copyright lawyer and he will tell you that the logos are similar enough to force dp to change. The logos don't have to be identical for them to be infringing. What fedora is claiming is SPECIFIC USE of the infinity symbol, not the infinity symbol itself. They have a symmetric infinity symbol tilted at a 45 degree angle with a letter inscribed in it. DP has a symmetric infinity symbol tilted at a 45 degree angle with a letter inscribed in it. The fact that other companys have similar logos is irrelevant unless there has been a ruling regarding it. In short, you're not a lawyer, you have no knowledge of the subject, so shut the fuck up. I’m sorry Justin, but you’re wrong. You clearly don’t have an understanding of logo copyrights and trademarks. Talk to any copyright lawyer and he will tell you that the logos are similar enough to force dp to change. The logos don’t have to be identical for them to be infringing. What fedora is claiming is SPECIFIC USE of the infinity symbol, not the infinity symbol itself. They have a symmetric infinity symbol tilted at a 45 degree angle with a letter inscribed in it. DP has a symmetric infinity symbol tilted at a 45 degree angle with a letter inscribed in it.

The fact that other companys have similar logos is irrelevant unless there has been a ruling regarding it.

In short, you’re not a lawyer, you have no knowledge of the subject, so shut the fuck up.

]]> By: Justin http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-41091 Justin Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:37:03 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-41091 <strong>@Kamisamanou</strong>, are you seriously suggesting that the Fedora logo doesn't look as much like the Designers Network logo as it does the DP logo? Or the dosh dosh logo? I think it is far more extreme to say Red Hat has a claim on the infinity symbol which is far older and more widespread than the thought bubble. <strong>@Amy</strong>, I see their separation as commercial vs. non-profit. But, the truth is this is all a moot point anyway because I agree with DP's decision to capitalize on the positive publicity by taking the high road. The debater in me didn't agree with Red Hat's claim, but the marketer in me agrees that argument doesn't play as well as a logo contest. :) @Kamisamanou, are you seriously suggesting that the Fedora logo doesn’t look as much like the Designers Network logo as it does the DP logo? Or the dosh dosh logo? I think it is far more extreme to say Red Hat has a claim on the infinity symbol which is far older and more widespread than the thought bubble.

@Amy, I see their separation as commercial vs. non-profit.

But, the truth is this is all a moot point anyway because I agree with DP’s decision to capitalize on the positive publicity by taking the high road. The debater in me didn’t agree with Red Hat’s claim, but the marketer in me agrees that argument doesn’t play as well as a logo contest. :)

]]> By: Amy J. http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40866 Amy J. Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:50:21 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40866 Similarity is not the only important thing here. Far more important is how likely it is that the average consumer would confuse the marks. It is unlikely that someone would think that the Bahamas or an art gallery are produced by Fedora simply due to the similar logos because of the incredibly different product spaces. However, it is likely that someone would think that Data Portability's logo is, because Fedora also promotes openness and is in the same sector. Similarity is not the only important thing here. Far more important is how likely it is that the average consumer would confuse the marks. It is unlikely that someone would think that the Bahamas or an art gallery are produced by Fedora simply due to the similar logos because of the incredibly different product spaces. However, it is likely that someone would think that Data Portability’s logo is, because Fedora also promotes openness and is in the same sector.

]]> By: Kamisamanou Burgess http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40795 Kamisamanou Burgess Sun, 24 Feb 2008 05:19:32 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40795 I don't think the logo dispute involved the the briefcase part of the logo. The logo on the DP homepage is a lot like the Fedora logo. And to say the "thought bubble" they use is so close to any of those other logos is a bit extreme. I'm a member of DP, and I agree it's no fun getting a C&D over the logo I don’t think the logo dispute involved the the briefcase part of the logo. The logo on the DP homepage is a lot like the Fedora logo. And to say the “thought bubble” they use is so close to any of those other logos is a bit extreme. I’m a member of DP, and I agree it’s no fun getting a C&D over the logo

]]> By: Casey http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40777 Casey Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:11:54 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40777 While I agree that the logo similarities do not warrant any type litigation, RH just like many other companies are forced to protect themselves or give up rights to their own trademarks and or IP. The current laws which need to be changed encourage this type of barbarianism between groups who should not and never have any animosity between one another. While I agree that the logo similarities do not warrant any type litigation, RH just like many other companies are forced to protect themselves or give up rights to their own trademarks and or IP. The current laws which need to be changed encourage this type of barbarianism between groups who should not and never have any animosity between one another.

]]> By: להוריד את הכובע בפני קבוצת “ניידות-המידע” http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40694 להוריד את הכובע בפני קבוצת “ניידות-המידע” Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:58:23 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40694 [...] היות ומאבק כזה היה צפוי להסתיים בניצחון פירוס (לדוגמא: ראו רשימה של לוגואים אחרים שדומים לרכיב של כובע-אדום). ובמקום זאת יצאו בקריאה [...] […] היות ומאבק כזה היה צפוי להסתיים בניצחון פירוס (לדוגמא: ראו רשימה של לוגואים אחרים שדומים לרכיב של כובע-אדום). ובמקום זאת יצאו בקריאה […]

]]> By: Justin http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40640 Justin Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:18:37 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40640 <strong>Chris</strong>, I know they have a right to protect their trademark. I just don't think the similarities between their's and DP's are as strong as Fedora's and the other logos displayed above. They have a right to protect, but they are not right about this defense. Chris, I know they have a right to protect their trademark. I just don’t think the similarities between their’s and DP’s are as strong as Fedora’s and the other logos displayed above.

They have a right to protect, but they are not right about this defense.

]]> By: Chris Brentano http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40638 Chris Brentano Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:59:12 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40638 Red Hat is perfectly within their rights to protect their trademark. Think about it from their perspective for a second. If some group came along and designed a logo that looked a hell of a lot like the Jive logo, you know that we'd have legal on it in a hot minute. Red Hat is perfectly within their rights to protect their trademark. Think about it from their perspective for a second. If some group came along and designed a logo that looked a hell of a lot like the Jive logo, you know that we’d have legal on it in a hot minute.

]]> By: Justin http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup/#comment-40637 Justin Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:56:42 +0000 http://www.metafluence.com/open-letter-to-red-hat-about-suing-the-dataportability-workgroup#comment-40637 <blockquote>Thank you again for your support, but Red Hat is in no wrong, actually they are in their legal right to protect their trademark when any other symbols appear similar in the public space.</blockquote> You're welcome. I really believe in the work you folks are doing. I know they have a right to protect their logo, but as the above images demonstrate, their marque is far more similar to many others and those organizations deployed their logos sooner.

Thank you again for your support, but Red Hat is in no wrong, actually they are in their legal right to protect their trademark when any other symbols appear similar in the public space.

You’re welcome. I really believe in the work you folks are doing. I know they have a right to protect their logo, but as the above images demonstrate, their marque is far more similar to many others and those organizations deployed their logos sooner.

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