VOTE: Update our trademark terms
Background
There have been a few instances brought to the PLC of possible trademark infringements where it was borderline on whether those were violations of the trademark agreement we've posted. One of the biggest issues there was that it wan't clear that the icon was part of the agreement and restrictions on such. These changes attempt to make clear that the icon is also restricted. For reference the full document is available: https://inkscape.org/about/branding/ Action The proposal is to change the points under Section 2.2 from:
In addition, you may use the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts: When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, to say that the such software is a "derivative of" or "based on" Inkscape.
When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., provided that the Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
To the following:
In addition, you may use certain of the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts: When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, you may use the term "Inkscape" only (and not any other Mark, such as the Inkscape Logo) to accurately describe the relationship of such software to official Inkscape software, such as to say it is a "derivative of" or "based on" official Inkscape software.
When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., you may use the term "Inkscape," the term "Inkscapers," and the Inkscape Logo, provided that such Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
Timeline Please post a vote to this list by March 24th, 2025 Votes A. Accept the changes as proposed B. Changes, but also: _________ C. Do not change
Thank you for your consideration, Ted
I vote a). I think most "friedly" downstream projects already comply with these terms (e.g. InkStitch, Mightyscape).
Thanks for working this out!
Jonathan
Am 16.03.25 um 17:18 schrieb Ted Gould:
*Background*
There have been a few instances brought to the PLC of possible trademark infringements where it was borderline on whether those were violations of the trademark agreement we've posted. One of the biggest issues there was that it wan't clear that the icon was part of the agreement and restrictions on such. These changes attempt to make clear that the icon is also restricted.
For reference the full document is available: https://inkscape.org/about/branding/
*Action*
The proposal is to change the points under Section 2.2 from:
In addition, you may use the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts:
When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, to say that the such software is a "derivative of" or "based on" Inkscape.When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., provided that the Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.To the following:
In addition, you may use certain of the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts:
When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, you may use the term "Inkscape" only (and not any other Mark, such as the Inkscape Logo) to accurately describe the relationship of such software to official Inkscape software, such as to say it is a "derivative of" or "based on" official Inkscape software.When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., you may use the term "Inkscape," the term "Inkscapers," and the Inkscape Logo, provided that such Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.*Timeline*
Please post a vote to this list by March 24th, 2025
*Votes*
A. Accept the changes as proposed B. Changes, but also: _________ C. Do not change
Thank you for your consideration, Ted
Inkscape Board of Directors mailing list --inkscape-board@lists.inkscape.org To unsubscribe send an email toinkscape-board-leave@lists.inkscape.org
I vote B.)
- It's not your fault that the original writing is a bit convoluted, but is the double-negative really necessary compared to a simple positive? "not substantially unmodified" vs "substantially modified"
- And on a second thought: why do we need to distinguish between degrees of modifications? Shouldn't we argue that every modified version of Inkscape is "derivative of" or "based on"? Or do we need to leave wiggle room to cover distribution packagers?
René
Am 16.03.2025 um 17:18 schrieb Ted Gould ted@gould.cx:
Background
There have been a few instances brought to the PLC of possible trademark infringements where it was borderline on whether those were violations of the trademark agreement we've posted. One of the biggest issues there was that it wan't clear that the icon was part of the agreement and restrictions on such. These changes attempt to make clear that the icon is also restricted.
For reference the full document is available: https://inkscape.org/about/branding/
Action
The proposal is to change the points under Section 2.2 from:
In addition, you may use the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts: • When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, to say that the such software is a "derivative of" or "based on" Inkscape. • When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., provided that the Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
To the following:
In addition, you may use certain of the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts: • When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, you may use the term "Inkscape" only (and not any other Mark, such as the Inkscape Logo) to accurately describe the relationship of such software to official Inkscape software, such as to say it is a "derivative of" or "based on" official Inkscape software. • When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., you may use the term "Inkscape," the term "Inkscapers," and the Inkscape Logo, provided that such Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
Timeline
Please post a vote to this list by March 24th, 2025
Votes
A. Accept the changes as proposed B. Changes, but also: _________ C. Do not change
Thank you for your consideration, Ted _______________________________________________ Inkscape Board of Directors mailing list -- inkscape-board@lists.inkscape.org To unsubscribe send an email to inkscape-board-leave@lists.inkscape.org
On Mon, 2025-03-17 at 21:41 +0100, René de Hesselle wrote:
- And on a second thought: why do we need to distinguish between
degrees of modifications? Shouldn't we argue that every modified version of Inkscape is "derivative of" or "based on"? Or do we need to leave wiggle room to cover distribution packagers?
Basically yes.
Although we could choose to sanction distributions that wish to modify (and still call it Inkscape) our source on a case by case basis. It's less work to let people have a little wiggle room.
I vote A)
though I don't dislike René's rewording.
Martin,
I'll vote (a) too, this seems resonable.
On 16/03/2025 5:18 PM, Ted Gould wrote:
Background
There have been a few instances brought to the PLC of possible trademark infringements where it was borderline on whether those were violations of the trademark agreement we've posted. One of the biggest issues there was that it wan't clear that the icon was part of the agreement and restrictions on such. These changes attempt to make clear that the icon is also restricted. For reference the full document is available: https://inkscape.org/about/branding/ Action The proposal is to change the points under Section 2.2 from:
In addition, you may use the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts: When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, to say that the such software is a "derivative of" or "based on" Inkscape. When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., provided that the Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
To the following:
In addition, you may use certain of the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts: When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, you may use the term "Inkscape" only (and not any other Mark, such as the Inkscape Logo) to accurately describe the relationship of such software to official Inkscape software, such as to say it is a "derivative of" or "based on" official Inkscape software. When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., you may use the term "Inkscape," the term "Inkscapers," and the Inkscape Logo, provided that such Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
Timeline Please post a vote to this list by March 24th, 2025 Votes A. Accept the changes as proposed B. Changes, but also: _________ C. Do not change
Thank you for your consideration, Ted
Inkscape Board of Directors mailing list -- inkscape-board@lists.inkscape.org To unsubscribe send an email to inkscape-board-leave@lists.inkscape.org
I vote A.
Cheers, Josh
On Sun, Mar 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM Ted Gould ted@gould.cx wrote:
*Background*
There have been a few instances brought to the PLC of possible trademark infringements where it was borderline on whether those were violations of the trademark agreement we've posted. One of the biggest issues there was that it wan't clear that the icon was part of the agreement and restrictions on such. These changes attempt to make clear that the icon is also restricted.
For reference the full document is available: https://inkscape.org/about/branding/
*Action*
The proposal is to change the points under Section 2.2 from:
In addition, you may use the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts:
When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, to say that the such software is a "derivative of" or "based on" Inkscape.
When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., provided that the Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
To the following:
In addition, you may use certain of the Marks to refer to products, services, or communities outside of the Inkscape software and Inkscape Project without written permission in the following contexts:
When referring to Inkscape software that is not substantially unmodified, you may use the term "Inkscape" only (and not any other Mark, such as the Inkscape Logo) to accurately describe the relationship of such software to official Inkscape software, such as to say it is a "derivative of" or "based on" official Inkscape software.
When referring to communities of users in the context of their use of the Inkscape software, e.g., virtual communities, community-moderated online forums, consortia of organizational users, etc., you may use the term "Inkscape," the term "Inkscapers," and the Inkscape Logo, provided that such Marks are not used to suggest endorsement of any user community by the Inkscape Project.
*Timeline*
Please post a vote to this list by March 24th, 2025
*Votes*
A. Accept the changes as proposed B. Changes, but also: _________ C. Do not change
Thank you for your consideration, Ted _______________________________________________ Inkscape Board of Directors mailing list -- inkscape-board@lists.inkscape.org To unsubscribe send an email to inkscape-board-leave@lists.inkscape.org
participants (6)
-
Jonathan Neuhauser -
Josh Andler -
Marc Jeanmougin -
Martin Owens -
René de Hesselle -
Ted Gould