Linux Mark Institute

In today's world, Linux Mark Institute is a topic that has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. Whether due to its impact on society, its historical relevance or its influence on people's daily lives, Linux Mark Institute has managed to become a recurring topic in conversations, debates and discussions in all areas. With a constant presence in the media and social networks, Linux Mark Institute has managed to transcend borders and cultures, generating interest and concern in people of all ages and conditions. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the impact and importance of Linux Mark Institute, analyzing its implications and relevance in contemporary society.

LMI Oregon, LLC
Company typePrivate
HeadquartersBeaverton, Oregon, US
Websitewww.linuxmark.org

The Linux Mark Institute (LMI, fully "LMI Oregon, LLC"[1]) is an organization which administers the "Linux" trademark on behalf of Linus Torvalds for computer software which includes the Linux kernel, computer hardware utilizing Linux-based software, and for services associated with the implementation and documentation of Linux-based products.

Trademark

The Linux trademark is owned by Linus Torvalds in the U.S.,[2] Germany, the E.U., and Japan for "Computer operating system software to facilitate computer use and operation". The assignment of the trademark to Torvalds occurred after a lawsuit against attorney William R. Della Croce Jr., of Boston, who had registered the trademark in the US in September 1995[3] and began in 1996 to send letters to various Linux distributors, demanding ten percent of royalties from sales of Linux products.[4] A petition against Della Croce's practices was started,[5] and in early 1997, WorkGroup Solutions, Yggdrasil, Linux Journal, Linux International, and Torvalds appealed the original trademark assignment as "fraudulent and obtained under false pretenses".[5] By November, the case was settled and Torvalds owned the trademark.[3]

History

LMI originally charged a nominal sublicensing fee for use of the Linux name as part of trademarks,[4] but later changed this in favor of offering a free, perpetual worldwide sublicense.[6]

LMI was headquartered in Monterey, California until at least 2005.[7][8] Since at least 2009 it was headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.[9]

References

  1. ^ "LMI OREGON, LLC in Oregon". Oregon Companies. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  2. ^ Linux US trademark registration
  3. ^ a b Richardson, Marjorie (1 November 1997). "Ownership of Linux Trademark Resolved". Linux Journal. No. 43.
  4. ^ a b Neil McAllister (2005-09-05). "Linus gets tough on Linux trademark". InfoWorld. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  5. ^ a b Hughes, Phil (1 March 1997). "Action Taken on Linux Trademark". Linux Journal. No. 35.
  6. ^ "Linux Mark Institute". Retrieved 2008-02-24. LMI has restructured its sublicensing program. Our new sublicense agreement is: Free — approved sublicense holders pay no fees; Perpetual — sublicense terminates only in breach of the agreement or when your organization ceases to use its mark; Worldwide — one sublicense covers your use of the mark anywhere in the world
  7. ^ "Linux Sublicense Agreement". www.linuxmark.org. Archived from the original on 2004-10-09. Retrieved 2005-10-09.
  8. ^ "Changes at the Linux Mark Institute". LWN.net. June 22, 2005. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  9. ^ "Sublicense Agreement | The Linux Mark Institute". www.linuxfoundation.org. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05. Retrieved 2017-03-31.


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