I'm going to forward this to some people working with Python in Europe, and I guess a link to the homepage might look more credible that to a blog.
http://softlibre.barrapunto.com/article.pl?sid=01/10/20/0982...
Using Archive.org, I can find a story about the release of Python 2.0 from October 2000:
http://web.archive.org/web/20001214042200/http://barrapunto....
This last one is shown on this front page with a different design:
http://web.archive.org/web/20001018174909/http://barrapunto....
After all, we all learn by asking questions.
I excuse for any irritation it might have caused and hopefully I could remove now any of these.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/disputes/when-use-drs/policy-and-p...
You might have a case under 3c(ii).
Edit: By the way, Nominet themselves use (or used) mailman, which uses Python:
https://lists.nominet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/nom-steer
So you might have some sympathy there.
I've reached out to a professor from University of Copenhagen who teaches a course on Molecular Dynamics using Python.
Another course from Copenhagen teaching Python is listed here http://sis.ku.dk/kurser/viskursus.aspx?knr=130419
Here is a job offer by a research laboratory: http://fr.lolix.org/search/offre/offre.php?id=15660
The French Python association has a Web page with lots of job offers too: http://www.afpy.org/jobs
Description of the course and its objectives, both in Estonian and English: https://www.is.ut.ee/reports/rwservlet?oa_aine_info.rdf+1010...
Learning material, in Estonian but there is Python code everywhere: http://courses.cs.ut.ee/2011/programmeerimine/uploads/Arvuti...
The website mentions [email protected] in reference to completed letters, should I contact that email address for help in drafting a letter?
The exception is Google's USENET cache.
I'll be including:
- screencap of my github profile (4 or 5 projects written in python)
- 2 approaches from companies wanting to hire me (through LinkedIn) because I had
"Python" listed on my profile
- Academic references which use "Python" the programming language in a title or
abstract.
- evidence of my experience with Linux (i.e. that python is preinstalled in many
many distributions),
- evidence that I am writing the majority of my PhD code (I'll get you line
counts) in Python.
This registration has been opposed so I assume now PSF via their UK counsellor will add some evidence to the opposition. If the opposition is successful it can turn out that owners of pythong.co.uk will not be able to get the trademark registration into a successful status.
So right now, they don't need to defend anything, it's more or less that they are opposed. Which is why the PSF needs your help to find evidence and show how the name actually is and was used to finally show probably either that:
- the EU trademark belongs to PSF (or elseone PYTHON related) - the name can not be trademarked at all in that class because it has its distinct, public meaning in internet/computing.
I asked a legitimate question.
The owners of python.co.uk have waited 13 years to make a complaint about others using their trademark. And due to this, are arguably in a weak position to claim ownership of the trademark.
So my question is this; are the owners of python.co.uk also being challenged to prove they've used their trademark? Are the owners of python.co.uk being challenged to prove that they've tried to enforce control over the trademark over the 13 years leading up to this case?
If you want an example of what I mean, then check domain name trademark policy: http://wordpressfoundation.org/trademark-policy/
> "All other WordPress-related businesses or projects can use the WordPress name and logo to refer to and explain their services, but they cannot use them as part of a product, project, service, domain, or company name and they cannot use them in any way that suggests an affiliation with or endorsement by the WordPress Foundation or the WordPress open source project. For example, a consulting company can describe its business as “123 Web Services, offering WordPress consulting for small businesses,” but cannot call its business “The WordPress Consulting Company.” Similarly, a business related to WordPress themes can describe itself as “XYZ Themes, the world’s best WordPress themes,” but cannot call itself “The WordPress Theme Portal.”
> Similarly, it’s OK to use the WordPress or WordCamp logo as part of a page that describes your products or services, but it is not OK to use it as part of your company or product logo or branding itself. Under no circumstances is it permitted to use WordPress or WordCamp as part of a top-level domain name."
The reason for this is quite simple, they've been seen to enforce their trademark so if there's ever any disputes, Wordpress are on strong legal ground. However python.co.uk owners have allowed the name -"their" trademark- to be borrowed and used globally. So it's now a grey issue as to whether the aforementioned still have a legal right to that trademark.
So if I understand trademark law, then the PSF should also be challenging python.co.uk to prove that they've made any effort to enforce their trademark before now. I hope for PSF's sake that I am right here because that would put them in a much stronger position to win this dispute than just proving the widespread use of the term under their context alone.
Edit: if you're going to down-vote, at least read my clarification below.
Why would I build on something that lets the owner act against me with relative impunity (assuming the software is something critical)?
Furthermore, I think the problem is not here, the PSF clearly made a mistake by not registering the name (it's not a matter of 'bad law'). If we apply your solution, then it would mean that a company which does not use Python can still ask to register a global trademark named on the term.
You acquire some pretty reasonable rights in a trademark by virtue of use alone.
But I also think you should hawk some merchandise. T-shirts with the snake, or the Python logo. This would even help your case if people around the world were wearing them or sending in photos wearing them.
Van Lindberg Chairman, Python Software Foundation
Edit: I have been asked what sort of statements would be helpful. I can't tell you exactly what to say - it needs to be your statement, but we need to make it clear that when someone says "Python" in relation to software, or a "Python server," or with "Python experience," they are referring to Python-the-language.
We also want people to testify to their understanding that Python is distributed by the Python Software Foundation.
These are not exactly the same, but this gives a flavor of some of the things that can be helpful:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zxn212k5r8mg1k7/WitnessStatement.p...
In case anyone wants to know, it is CTM Application No. 10848208 PYTHON & Device in the name of POBox Hosting
Edit 2: I have already received a book written in Spain, job postings about Python, and a number of statements of support. Thank you! Please, keep sending them. We need to make sure that it is clear that "Python" is Python across the entire EU.