Finger Graffiti

[Jay Vaughan]

On Jul 30, 2007, at 7:50 AM, Rod Whitby wrote:
>> Ah cripes, who freaking *CARES* about the Graffiti trademark ..
> Hmm ... someone could just as well say:
> "Ah cripes, who freaking *CARES* about the OpenMoko trademark .."
>

Is someone actually developing something which uses the OpenMoko  
properties?  I don't think so.

> Doesn't sound so good when you say it that way, does it?
>

I'm not saying don't be "trademark-sensitive", I'm saying that  
worrying about the Graffiti trademark is irrelevant, because nobody  
is putting, actually, Graffiti into anything.  There are plenty of  
Graffiti alternatives around .. it just happens that Graffiti is what  
people know "finger painting on your PDA" to be .. its common enough  
to warrant usage as a word referring to the activity of finger- 
painting symbols for recognition on a devices surface.  Graffiti,  
itself, is useless to us.  Similar techniques which do not violate  
anyones rights are useful; to discuss, to implement, and hopefully to  
use.

> Note that David didn't accuse anyone of breaching trademark rights, he
> simply pointed out that OpenMoko (or anyone else for that matter other
> than the trademark holder) should be careful not to release any  
> software
> package with the trademarked term "Graffiti" in it's name.  And he  
> said
> he would only say it once, so as not to annoy people by continually
> harping on it.
>

It would have been wonderful advice if there is actually some release  
going on.

> Don't forget that OpenMoko is a company too.  You can't favour and
> protect one companies trademarks and not do the same for another.
>

I don't care about the trademark issue until there is actually  
something to attach a mark to.  So far, there is nothing in this  
direction.  All I care about is that the technical creativity not be  
stifled by legalese so soon in the game ..

;