[OSM-talk] HOT using the OpenStreetMap-Foundation trademark

[Martin Koppenhoefer]

Am Mi., 18. Mai 2022 um 11:52 Uhr schrieb Amanda McCann <
amanda.mccann at osmfoundation.org>:

> I know that the OSMF trademarks & copyright are not, and should not, be
> optional. I don't believe I ever said otherwise. I was merely updating
> yous, the membership, on the current status. 🙂 As I said, we are (still,
> intermittently) working on a mutually beneficial contract.



I believe HOT should point out in a visible way that they are not governed
by the "OpenStreetMap-Foundation" or a subsidiary of it, because by using
the protected trademark "OpenStreetMap" in their name it appears to
everybody they are. I could also imagine that if something bad happened at
HOT and became public, it would shade a bad light on OSM as well, because
it looks to outsiders as if both were the same or HOT a body under the
OSMF, but surely it wouldn't come to mind that "Humanitarian OpenStreetMap
Team United States incorporated" has nothing to do with
"OpenStreetMap-Foundation" - on a formal level. Even less, if the website
doesn't state the company name in any place but links to OpenStreetMap with
this sentence in the footer:
"Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
and global community. Learn more about OpenStreetMap
<https://www.openstreetmap.org/about>."

I also believe it would be clearly preferrable if HOT renamed to something
like "Humanitarian Open mapping Team United States (HOT)", so that the OSMF
does not have to endorse a specific company by giving them the right to use
the OSMF trademarks.

Martin
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