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Universities Dispute with Red Hat over 'Fedora'

Posted by michael on from the red-hat-hoist-by-own-fedora dept.

Carl Lagoze points out that a pre-existing software project is already using the Fedora name, dating back to 1998. They're unhappy with Red Hat's claim to the name, and have objected.

3 of 500 comments (clear)

  1. Pot, meet kettle. by fo0bar · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Perhaps Warren Togami should take exeption to Virginia/Cornell using the Fedora name 5 months after the (now Red Hat) Fedora project was started.

    Founded December 2002 by University of Hawaii Computer Science student Warren Togami, the previous Fedora Linux Project is an international team of volunteer software developers united for the development of high quality 3rd party RPM packages for the Red Hat Linux platform.

  2. Re:Pretty boneheaded move on Red Hat's part by VisorGuy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The last entry on the way back machine doesn't show that TM on the FEDORA Project site.

    However, it does appear that they have been using the Fedora name longer than the original Fedora Linux Project, but not longer than Red Hat has been associated with the Fedora.

    --
    This user account is inactive account replaced by the PDA
  3. Re:fedora.info lies by GammaTau · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The fedora.info site of the complaining fedora project is using a tm symbol next to thier name on the site, but they have not registered it with the US trademark office.

    As far as I know, there are basically two ways of getting a trademark: the first is by registering and the second is by using something commercially long enough for it to become clearly associated with a company or a product. The first kind of trademark is denoted by having an R inside a circle whereas the second is denoted with the small tm symbol.

    In other words:
    (R) = Trademark through registration
    tm = Trademark through established use

    Using the tm symbol in the press release is consistent with their position because they're saying that they have become associated with the name 'Fedora'. They can have a trademark claim to the word even when they haven't registered it.

    Disclaimer: IANAL etc.