KDE Apps name trademarks

[Ben Cooksley]

On Thu, Jul 9, 2020 at 6:09 AM Christoph Cullmann <christoph at cullmann.io> wrote:
>
> On 2020-07-08 18:12, Jonathan Riddell wrote:
> > Recently we've noticed some KDE apps ending up on the Microsoft Store
> > uploaded by unknown third parties.  Maybe to up some credit score for
> > their developer account.  Maybe to install bitcoin  miners.  We don't
> > know the motivations.  Since it's all free software the licence allows
> > it.
>
> Hi,
>
> have you some links to these applications?

I believe Jonathan will be referring to
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/kdiff-3-diff-utility/9ndvvx243rfh?activetab=pivot:overviewtab#

>
> >
> > One option is to claim Trademark on all our app names.  This isn't
> > hard, we just add the ™ onto the name anywhere we have it on our
> > website starting with kde.org/applications [1]. Some apps such as
> > KOffice have done this in the past anyway.  This doesn't cost
> > anything, only a registered trademark (which uses the ®. logo) costs
> > money.  It might give us more ability to take down random people
> > posting our software on app stores.  It might also make us look more
> > corporate than we want to look and put off Linux distros from shipping
> > our software.
> >
> > Should we add ™ next to the app names?
>
> As other already posted, I don't think this is sufficient nor do I think
> that is really the direction we should move to. (at least for Kate, I am
> fine with the status quo).

I concur with that sentiment.

>
> Greetings
> Christoph

Cheers,
Ben

>
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> >
> >
> > Links:
> > ------
> > [1] http://kde.org/applications
>
> --
> Ignorance is bliss...
> https://cullmann.io | https://kate-editor.org