The Open Source Alternative: Understanding Risks and Leveraging Opportunities

Appendix 11A. Open Source Trademark Policy

This Form is an Example of a Policy for a Dual-Licensed Open Source Product. Foobar Trademark Policy

The trademark FOOBAR signals quality, dependability, and robustness in the world of memory leakage control. Foobar, Inc. ("Foobar") is proud of its reputation for excellent software products, and wishes to maintain that reputation for the benefit of Foobar and its open source community. This trademark policy (the "Policy") describes the ways in which the trademarks, service marks, and logos of Foobar relating to the Foobar memory leakage product ("Trademarks") may or may not be used. If you use any of the Trademarks, you must abide by this Policy. We encourage communication to prevent misunderstanding. If you have any questions or comments, please contact as described at the end of this Policy.

Foobar's trademark policy attempts to balance two competing interests: Foobar's need to ensure that its trademarks remain reliable indicators of quality, and Foobar's desire to permit community members to contribute to the development and success of the Foobar software. Striking a proper balance can be difficult, and we hope this Policy will help us to do that.

Underlying Foobar's trademark policy is the general law of trademarks. Trademarks exist to help consumers identify the source or origin of products. When a company makes a good product or a bad one, consumers begin to associate those qualities with the name and trademarks of that company. The ...