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Who Owns The Linux Trademark?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the turns-out-i-do dept.

An anonymous reader writes "In an addendum to the recent noises by Microsoft about Linux, InformationWeek blogger Alexander Wolfe has turned up an interesting list of who owns U.S. trademarks on the word "Linux." Yes, Linus Torvalds does indeed have the trademark as far as software is concerned. But Swiss company Rosch owns "Linux" for use with laundry detergents. Interestingly, both Pogo Linux and United Linux have abandoned their trademarks (Wolfe speculates that's because of Linus's lawyers). But Finite State Machines of New Mexico owns RTLinux and Linux Networx Inc. owns "Linux Supercomputing." You can also read the full list of all 204 Linux trademarks"

8 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Who Owns It? Apparently Many Do by Real+World+Stuff · · Score: 5, Funny

    Much like the ideas behind F/Oss.

    --
    If we don't fight for ourselves no one will.
  2. The more important question is ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... who will own Linux in the future:

    1) Bill Gates and/or Microsoft
    2) Steve Jobs and/or Apple
    3) Rupert Murdock and/or MySpace
    4) SCO (via litigation from Linus, Gates, Jobs or Murdock)
    5) IBM (via litigation from SCO or cash from Linus)
    6) Cowboy Neal (via high bid on eBay)

    1. Re:The more important question is ... by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Funny

      7) RMS
      8) Officer Barbrady
      9) Leeroy Jenkins
      10) ???
      11) Profit!
      12) I'll die in the future you insensitive clod!

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
  3. Hmm.. by Mockylock · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not sure who owns the logo, but if I was a penguin and that was my portrait, I'd be fucking PISSED.

    --
    "Please, shut up. Just when I think you can't say anything more stupid, you speak again." -Archie Bunker.
  4. Jump on the bandwagon by packetmon · · Score: 3, Funny

    I better make my move and trademark Linus before that stupid Charlie Brown character makes a power move...

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    Infiltrated dot Net
  5. Re:imagine that by Dogtanian · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's pretty common knowledge that a trademark is only valid within an industry. You mean to say that there's nothing Bill Gates can do to stop me marketing a Microsoft (TM) enema kit? Yay!

    OTOH, MS's defence might be that they *are* involved in the enema industry, since the public has been taking it up the ass from them for years...

    No Bill Gates (TM) douche for similar reasons.
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    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  6. Obligatory... by MarkByers · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obligatory...

    http://folk.uio.no/hpv/linuxtoons/linux-detergent. jpg

    And yes, it is a real photo!

    --
    I'll probably be modded down for this...
  7. pengins by j00r0m4nc3r · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whoever owns all them pengins, please contact me.
    Bill Sparks, Chief of R&D
    Purina Dog Food Company
    St. Louis, Missouri 63164