I think you're mistaken in calling the trademark issue a restriction on modification. It is a restriction on the manner of distribution of certain modifications. I can make whatever changes I like, but I may not distribute them under the mark "Abiword."
Your substantive argument, however, is persuasive. Debian should distribute its modified work derived from Abiword as, perhaps, Debiword. It's OK to still have references to Abiword in it, and even to prominently mark that it's derived from Abiword -- anything which reduces confusion and avoids charges that Debian's changing names to accrue glory to itself, as was the case with Red Hat a year or two ago. -Brian -- Brian Sniffen [EMAIL PROTECTED]
