Firebird Database Project Admin on Name Clash 563
CapnKirk writes "Ann Harrison weighs in on the "Firebird--database or browser?" name clash. Her take on things: our users feel threatened. We're responding to their concerns. AOL lawyers said it's ok, so the Mozilla team isn't interested in negotiating, but that's ok because we've gotten a lot of publicity and name recognition. And no, we don't plan on going to court." As always, a small group of users are being real asses about the whole thing. Yay.
Here is a reply to my e-mail from Ann and Paul (Score:1, Informative)
First our mail.
Subject: In protest
To: harrison@ibphoenix.com
CC: postmaster@ibphoenix.com
We at "Broken Dreams : Sound DB" are protesting your terror acts against the Mozilla foundation, users and releated community.
Broken Dreams has been a long time Interbase user, we switched to FirebirdSQL only recently, but your current tactics has made us question our switch and review other opensource databases. We are in the process of switching over to postgresql.
Thus, I'd like to urge you to stop these terror attacks against other opensource projects.
Thank you.
Shawn from Broken Dreams : Sound DB
To which Ann harrison spat thus
From: "Ann W. Harrison" <aharrison@ibphoenix.com>
Subject: Re: In protest
Shawn,
>We at "Broken Dreams : Sound DB" are protesting your
>terror acts against the Mozilla foundation, users and
>releated community.
Thank you for taking the time to let me know how our efforts appear to you. I've answered several - many messages accusing me of encouraging spam and now understand that any unwanted email (including yours) is considered spam by some.
Well, not by me. Spam is the stuff that tells me about horny housewives, guaranteed mortgages, and penis enlargers. People who are upset by something I've done deserve to have there concerns dealt with seriously.
Now, you didn't say spam, you said terror. That really seems strong - even for the type of message that some of our more abrasive users can put together. Maybe I underestimate them, but I've never been burned, cut, shot, or blown up by any of their mail.
Seriously though, we did contact Asa - several of us - and his answer was "The AOL lawyers say it's legal." When we responded that legal or not, it wasn't friendly to take over someone else's name, we got no different answer.
>Broken Dreams has been a long time Interbaseuser, we
>switched to FirebirdSQL only recently, but your
>current tactics has made us question our switch and
>review other opensource databases. We are in the
>process of switching over to postgresql.
PostgreSQL is a fine database and the developers I know there are really good people. I wish you the best with their product.
>Thus, I'd like to urge you to stop these terror
>attacks against other opensource projects.
And I'd like to find some what to protect our name -
however little known it may be.
Again, thank you for writing - without communication there
can be no progress.
Regards,
Ann
And paul's reply.
From: harrison@ibphoenix.com
Subject: Re: In protest
Broken Dreams wrote:
> We at "Broken Dreams : Sound DB" are protesting your
> terror acts against the Mozilla foundation, users and
> releated community.
I think you are overstating your case. I am not aware of us committing any terror acts against the Mozilla project. I am aware that they have recently attempted to appropriate the Firebird namespace for a browser.
Our initial reaction was one of shock and disbelief. This was also the initial reaction of many Firebird users. We published the contact addresses for leading members of the Mozilla project and encouraged people to write to them to express their feelings.
We are supposed to live in a democratic society. Writing letters of complaint seems to be an good, non-violent form of protest. You are using it yourself.
I'd recommend that more reflection may be required before you migrate to Postgres. After all, I'm still using the Mozilla mail component to write to you. Stand back a little and let the initia
Re:Mozilla is losing mindshare (Score:5, Informative)
> get the browser or the database?
The database, since "Firebird" is a codename for the browser component of Mozilla and should not be applied to actual shipping products.
Re:Which is more similar? (Score:5, Informative)
> database, or a web browser and a BIOS?
Phoenix Software also makes a browser for embedded systems. As in, their BIOS is no the only product in their product line.
See the second bullet point at http://www.phoenix.com/en/solutions/connect/first
So what's more similar, eh? A web browser and a database, or a web browser and a web browser?
Re:Apples & Oranges. (Score:5, Informative)
Some years back (I think around 1999), Apple decided to name the ninth version of its operating system for the Macintosh "Mac OS9". Microware Systems Corporation went to court, as it had used the name "OS-9" for a family of soft real-time operating systems since 1980 and had trademarked the name (it still does, or rather RadiSys Corporation, which bought Microware in 2001, does)--and lost. The case was thrown out of court (both originally and on appeal), because the judge claimed there would be no confusion--even though
- Both are operating systems.
- A company called Ultrascience at one time sold OS-9/68000 for 68000-based Macintoshes.
- If you look around on the net, just about everybody always calls "Mac OS9" "OS9," just as Ms. Harrison asserts people will call "Mozilla Firebird" just plain "Firebird."
- To this day, Macintosh users still post questions on comp.os.os9.
I hasten to add that I am not a lawyer, and don't play one on TV, and that all opinions and errors herein are my own and not necessarily those of any organization.Re:I don't think so (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Mozilla is losing mindshare (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Namespace Crowding (Score:3, Informative)
Well, your recall and hearing may be fine, but your story is apocryphal. :)
See http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.htm [snopes.com]
Re:New Names (Score:3, Informative)
Re:New Names (Score:3, Informative)
There is no problem with setting Moz as the default browser.