[Ubuntu NL gemeenschapsraad] Opzet: Question about the use of the trademark name Ubuntu

[Thomas de Graaff]

Hallo Ronnie,
goede opzet, hier mijn feedback, toevoegingen.

Misschien kan het nog iets ingekort:

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Dear Canonical,

Ubuntu-NL has a question about the use of the trademark name 'Ubuntu' in
the name for the legal entity (a non profit foundation), we are
establishing to support our LoCo community in its endeavors.

The name we would like to use for the foundation is: "Stichting
Ondersteuning Ubuntu­-NL" freely translated to "Foundation to support
Ubuntu-NL"

The reasons why Ubuntu-NL needs an legal entity, a non profit
foundation:
 - In the Netherlands it is impossible to open a bank account without a
legal entity. No bank account makes endeavors that involve money like
organizing events, create promotion material, get sponsorship to buy
cd's etc. quite hard to organize.
 - Sponsorship of a non profit foundation is very interesting for
companies who then receive part of the sponsorship back as a result of
special tax regulations in the Netherlands.
 - People organizing events need liability insurance. Without means
Ubuntu-NL cannot provide any help for volunteers getting insured.
 - The communities goods are managed by a group of people instead of one
person.
 - Ubuntu-NL needs to be a legal entity to be able to make contracts
with other parties. For example to be able as a community to arrange
website hosting. Without a legal entity such contracts need to be on the
name of a single person what gives problems if this person wants to get
rid of the contract etc.

Since Canonical owns the Ubuntu trademark we need permission to use the
term Ubuntu in the name of the foundation: "Stichting Ondersteuning
Ubuntu-NL" (translated: Foundation to support Ubuntu-NL). Can you give
our community permission to use the term "Ubuntu" in this name of the
foundation?

Kind regards,

Ronnie van den Crommenacker
Loco-contact of Ubutnu-NL



On Sun, 2011-07-17 at 15:30 +0200, Ronnie van den Crommenacker wrote:
> Dear Canonical employee,
> 
> Our loco (Ubuntu-NL) has a question about the use of the trademark
> name 'Ubuntu' for our legal volunteer association structure.
> 
> As Ubuntu-NL loco we want to establish an foundation. 
> We like to use the name: "Stichting ondersteuning Ubuntu­NL" freely
> translated to "Foundation support UbuntuNL"
> 
> Since Ubuntu is an trademark name we need to verify, if we as loco are
> allowed to create a legal structure with the name Ubuntu in it.
> 
> Why Ubuntu-NL needs an foundation:
>  - With a foundation we can receive gifts/donations/goods from
> companies (companies cant donate easily to persons, cause some rule
> about taxes)
>  - The goods are managed by a group of people instead of one person.
>  - For liability insurance at release parties
> 
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> Ronnie van den Crommenacker
> Loco-contact of Ubutnu-NL 
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