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Firebird Database Project Admin on Name Clash

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-read dept.

CapnKirk writes "Ann Harrison weighs in on the "Firebird--database or browser?" name clash. Her take on things: our users feel threatened. We're responding to their concerns. AOL lawyers said it's ok, so the Mozilla team isn't interested in negotiating, but that's ok because we've gotten a lot of publicity and name recognition. And no, we don't plan on going to court." As always, a small group of users are being real asses about the whole thing. Yay.

4 of 562 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Mozilla is losing mindshare by BZ · · Score: 5, Informative

    > When users apt-get install firebird, should they
    > get the browser or the database?

    The database, since "Firebird" is a codename for the browser component of Mozilla and should not be applied to actual shipping products.

  2. Re:Which is more similar? by BZ · · Score: 4, Informative

    > Which pair is more similar, a web browser and a
    > database, or a web browser and a BIOS?

    Phoenix Software also makes a browser for embedded systems. As in, their BIOS is no the only product in their product line.

    See the second bullet point at http://www.phoenix.com/en/solutions/connect/firstv iew+connect/firstview+connect+2.1/default1.htm

    So what's more similar, eh? A web browser and a database, or a web browser and a web browser?

  3. Re:Apples & Oranges. by jejones · · Score: 5, Informative
    Ironic that the thread has "Apples" in the title...

    Some years back (I think around 1999), Apple decided to name the ninth version of its operating system for the Macintosh "Mac OS9". Microware Systems Corporation went to court, as it had used the name "OS-9" for a family of soft real-time operating systems since 1980 and had trademarked the name (it still does, or rather RadiSys Corporation, which bought Microware in 2001, does)--and lost. The case was thrown out of court (both originally and on appeal), because the judge claimed there would be no confusion--even though

    • Both are operating systems.
    • A company called Ultrascience at one time sold OS-9/68000 for 68000-based Macintoshes.
    • If you look around on the net, just about everybody always calls "Mac OS9" "OS9," just as Ms. Harrison asserts people will call "Mozilla Firebird" just plain "Firebird."
    • To this day, Macintosh users still post questions on comp.os.os9.
    I hasten to add that I am not a lawyer, and don't play one on TV, and that all opinions and errors herein are my own and not necessarily those of any organization.
  4. Re:Mozilla is losing mindshare by BZ · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think I have a general idea of what I'm talking about with the Mozilla project... ;) The final shipping name of the browser component is not clear yet; it may well end up being "Mozilla Browser". But for now, we need distinct names for the new component and the existing app-suite, while the new component is being moved to.