linuxurious's Journal: Fair use of Red Hat(R) Linux trademarks

http://www.redhat.com/about/corporate/trademark/guidelines.html

Take a look at the above URL and you will realise that Red Hat, Inc has recently modified (update -17 Aug 02: ok, I heard it's been since the release of RHL 7.2) its trademarks rules. OK, the hardest hit are those selling GPL'ed CDs (such as Linux Central). They cannot even place the phrase "Contains Red Hat(R) Linux X.X" anywhere on the CD (even with disclaimer that this is not an official Red Hat(R) product). Clearly, Red Hat, Inc is trying to prevent all GPLed CD sellers from selling Red Hat(R) Linux GPLed CDs. The specific URL on this is:
http://www.redhat.com/about/corporate/trademark/page6.html

No big deal to you perhaps especially if you do not buy from these CD sellers or if you do not use Red Hat(R) Linux (of coz). However, please appreciate that this is technically a workaround of the GPL using legal means and if they can do this now, they can easily extend and find other ways to circumvent GPL in order to do you-know-what.

I am wondering how Linux Central is going to resolve this (other than paying a potentially big royalty fee). Anyway, the only CD seller that I have noticed to have taken the aprioprate action is TuxCDs.com. It actually refer its Red Hat(R) Linux CDs as XXX XXX Linux CDs. Haha ...

Update (17 Aug): I just came to know that CheapBytes.com has referred its RHL (Download edition) CDs as Pinkties CDs. LOL

Related articles:

o Red Hat revamping trademark policy in response to community questions

o Red Hat Trademark Fiasco

o Red Hat Allegedly puts Foot Down on Trademarked Brand Name

o Bob Young -- Regarding Amazon's concerns over fake Red Hat product