Re: Promoting PostgreSQL to the world.

Rod Taylor wrote:
> > The distinction is whether we are going to require companies to give us
> > money to use our name or logo. If CP, SRA, or PostgreSQL, Inc. puts the
> > logo on their box, is that OK? I think we need to decide how this is
> > going to work long-term, not just in this case.
>
> But it does depend on the specific case in question.
>
> The PostgreSQL brand should be treated carefully as those using it will
> be seen as representatives of the project. We should not allow others to
> just pick up the logo or name and run with it irregardless of past
> experiences with that firm or person.
>
> If RedHat, SRA, or others released a retail product under the PostgreSQL
> name, we should:
> 1. Hold them to a certain quality standard
> 2. Ensure it is PostgreSQL code that the product is based upon and
> not SQL Lite branded as PostgreSQL 8 (unlikely -- but possible)
> 3. Ensure they provide compensation by (for example) having a
> minimum of N staff dedicated to improving the public code base
> or marketing efforts for the life of that product.
>
> Despite everything SRA has done in the past, if a new CEO came by and
> said they were forking the project and taking all staff off the public
> project, we should not allow them to continue use of the PostgreSQL
> brand. This requires protecting it in the first place. SRA could not
> have received blanket authorization to use the logo to start with.

Command Prompt doesn't doesn't have any staff contributing to the public
project. Do we tell them they can't use the name "PostgreSQL"? That is
just an example. There are tons of PostgreSQL usages out there that
have no payback to the community. ConnX and dbexperts are good
examples.

> Not only should we take a reasonable cut (in this case) but we should
> require a certain quality level in the product they put our logo.

That is my point. Are we going to require a certain level of acceptable
usage for someone to use the name?

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