Digimer <lists at ...> writes: > > On 09/03/14 08:26 PM, Always Learning wrote: > > > >> On Sun, Mar 9, 2014 at 5:12 PM, Pouar <thepouar at ...> wrote: > >>> > >>> I'm thinking of creating a project based on JBoss EAP the same way > >>> CentOS does with RHEL. Obviously I can't call it JBoss EAP so I thought > >>> I could call it CentAP, for Community Enterprise Application Platform. > >>> Will this infringe on the Red Hat and/or CentOS trademarks? <SNIP> > Personally, I would: > > a) Not use Cent* > b) Ask a trademark lawyer > Best advice so far ^^^^ IANAL of any kind and specifically not a trademark lawyer. As I understand it, trademark law differs from other IP law in that the trademark owner must "defend" their trademark or they lose it. It's great when a trademarked word becomes synonymous with something (Kleenex, Xerox, etc.) but it also means the company that owns the trademark has to actively go after (C&D) anyone who uses their trademarked word. This also apparently holds for companies that deliberately create a product that has almost the same name as a trademarked product (I remember seeing a picture of a tube of Colgade toothpaste in the article discussing this). So, while CentAP or some of the other suggestions may not infringe on CentOS, you could still get a C&D from a Red Hat lawyer telling you not to use CentAP. Unless you can afford a really good trademark lawyer to fight the C&D, you'll have to discontinue use of CentAP (or whatever). Your choice. Clear as mud? That's why lawyers make lots of money. Cheers, Dave