Re: rust non-free-compatible trademark

[Mark Wielaard <mark@klomp.org>]

Hi Luke,

On Sun, Jul 17, 2022 at 07:29:22PM +0100, lkcl wrote:
> whilst you *as developers* have been in contact with the Rust Foundation
> and presumably have private assurances that your use of the Trademarked
> word "rust" is Authorised under License (through either implication or by
> actual explicit approval) absolutely nobody else does.

As far as I know all discussions have been in public. The Rust
Foundation is aware of the gccrs frontend and other "unofficial"
implementations.

Using the word "rust" in the implementation of the gccrs frontend
doesn't need any "Authorization under License". Normal use of a word
isn't something that Trademarks prevent.

> i appreciate that this is a bloody nuisance.  i do however expect the
> Rust Foundation to get their act together and act Reasonably and
> Fairly to sort out the mess they've accidentally created.

I believe the Rust Foundation is reasonable. We aren't using the word
mark "Rust" in a way that needs any trademark license. And even if we
did the Rust Foundation allows all usage of the word mark as long as
you don't deliberately try to confuse about (commercially) shipping a
product called "Rust" that is officially endorsed by the Rust
Foundation.

If the Rust Foundation really believed that some of the marketing we
do around the gccrs frontend is confusing they would contact us and if
they are reasonable we can adjust the messaging (we can be reasonable
too).

The best advice I can give you is to listen to what the Rust
Foundation itself says about their trademark:

  Please do not approach users of the trademarks with a
  complaint. That should be left to the Rust Foundation and its
  representatives. Thanks!

  If you have a specific question or concern about promoting Rust or
  using its trademarks, please contact the Rust Foundation:
  contact@rustfoundation.org.

Cheers,

Mark