I'm sure that the legal team has done their homework on this and would not have made this recommendation unless they felt that the WTO had a credible argument. Asking the Foundation to play chicken with the lawyers of a major international organisation over a trademark claim on a relatively new and easily replaced logo of ours does not offer a very good risk/reward ratio in my view.
Cheers, Craig Franklin On 1 June 2013 19:59, Peter Southwood <[email protected]> wrote: > Has anyone done a search on other logos with similar characteristics, to > see how much they differ? I think the WTO is taking a chance with this. > Which specific aspects do they object to? > Peter Southwood. > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maggie Dennis" <[email protected]> > To: "Wikimedia Mailing List" > <[email protected].**org<[email protected]> > > > Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2013 5:39 AM > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikivoyage logo > > > > On Fri, May 31, 2013 at 8:21 PM, MZMcBride <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Michelle Paulson wrote: >>> >Since then, the Foundation has received a cease-and-desist letter from >>> >the >>> >WTO, requesting that we change the logo. While we wish that the WTO >>> >agreed >>> >with our assessment that the two logos contain substantial differences >>> >and >>> >could co-exist, we understand their concern. We still believe that there >>> >are some significant differences between the Wikivoyage logo and the >>> >WTO, >>> >however, such arguments are not guaranteed to win if we were to legally >>> >oppose this request because there are also some substantial >>> >similarities. >>> >With this in mind, as well as the fact that the Wikivoyage logo is still >>> >relatively new and has not had a chance to build significant brand >>> >recognition yet, we believe the better solution is to hold a new >>> >community >>> >contest for a new logo. >>> >>> Will the current Wikivoyage logo be an option in this upcoming logo >>> selection contest? If the Wikivoyage community is strongly in favor of >>> retaining the logo it already approved, what are options? >>> >>> >> >> On behalf of a Wikivoyager, I've already asked the legal team if >> derivatives of the current logo would be usable, and I'm afraid the answer >> is no. It must be a new logo. >> >> >> I don't believe there's any precedent for the Wikimedia Foundation >>> vetoing >>> a community-approved logo in this manner. (Is there?) This seems like >>> unchartered territory for Wikimedia, so it's important to be cautious and >>> careful, I think. >>> >>> >>> I think that the reason why there's no precedent is because this is the >> first time that we have run into a trademark infringement claim against a >> logo. >> >> >> >We believe that the community is the best body to decide what logo >>> >should >>> >represent their hard work and hope that interested community members >>> >will >>> >take this opportunity to once again showcase their creativity and talent >>> >by submitting designs. >>> >>> As I posted on the relevant Meta-Wiki talk page just now, the Wikimedia >>> community cannot feel rushed or pressured to accept this new logo >>> selection procedure. Typically a discussion of this nature would last at >>> least thirty days, from my experience. >>> >>> This leaves two options, as I see it: pushing back the timeline for the >>> selection of a Wikivoyage logo by a few weeks or not using this procedure >>> for the selection of the next Wikivoyage logo. >>> >>> >>> The question of process is one for Meta, where discussion is already >> underway. No reason to fracture it. :) I appreciate your input there. >> >> Maggie >> >> >> -- >> Maggie Dennis >> Senior Community Advocate >> Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. >> ______________________________**_________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list >> [email protected].**org <[email protected]> >> Unsubscribe: >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/**mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l<https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l> >> >> > > ______________________________**_________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list > [email protected].**org <[email protected]> > Unsubscribe: > https://lists.wikimedia.org/**mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l<https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l> > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
