proposal: remove go trademark from google

[willfaught]

Google still claims the Go trademark for programming languages: https://about.google/brand-resource-center/trademark-list/

The Go Team has stated that the Go name should not and will not be trademarked by Google or anyone else.

Please clarify the position within Google and remove the trademark from the list.

[seankhliao]

related #58412

[robpike]

When Go was first released, Google insisted there be no trademark. Later, due to business changes, a trademark was filed (not by the Go team itself). I'm curious to see how this proposal evolves.

[bitfield]

I'm not sure I understand exactly what's being proposed. If it's a change to the text of the Google website, isn't that a suggestion that should be addressed directly to Google?

Alternatively, if the proposal is that Google should withdraw its claim to the trademark, isn't that also something that only Google can do? I guess I'm not seeing where the Go issue tracker comes into this.

The Go Team has stated...

Citation needed.

[dominikh]

Citation needed.

#60466 (comment)

[willfaught]

Citation needed.

I don't remember where I read it (GitHub, golang-nuts, Reddit, or something like that), but a while ago, someone pointed out that Go is on that list, and @robpike commented that it shouldn't be. I filed that away in my brain to check on later, and here we are. Cursory searches on golang-nuts, Reddit, and GitHub turn up nothing, unfortunately, but above @robpike has added some context.

I'm not sure I understand exactly what's being proposed.

If Go is not supposed to be on that list, then the Go team that is employed by Google should try to get it removed. If it can't be removed, then the Go team should update its guidance for the community to make it clear that they can't use the name Go without Google's permission. The issue is written from the perspective of anticipating that the trademark claim should and will be removed. I can update the issue's wording if the maintainers think it would be useful.

[ianlancetaylor]

You may be thinking of these messages from 2019, which are consistent with what @robpike wrote above but not precisely what you say in the initial issue comment. (Or you may be thinking of something else, I don't know.)

https://groups.google.com/g/golang-nuts/c/6dKNSN0M_kg/m/dMCQBoSRBAAJ
https://groups.google.com/g/golang-nuts/c/6dKNSN0M_kg/m/Qsw4k2mvBAAJ

[bitfield]

I can update the issue's wording if the maintainers think it would be useful.

It sounds like what you're really asking for (and I'd support this) is something like:

website: add clear guidance on rules for use of 'Go' name and brand

[willfaught]

https://groups.google.com/g/golang-nuts/c/6dKNSN0M_kg/m/Qsw4k2mvBAAJ

Thank you, this is the one.

website: add clear guidance on rules for use of 'Go' name and brand

Only if removing the trademark claim by Google can't be done. If I understand correctly, the current guidance is that the community (or anyone) can use the Go programming language name however they see fit. This issue is foremost about ensuring that Google and the Go Team conform to that. If that can't be done, then what you suggest would be what this issue is about.

[golightlyb]

Consider golang-standards/project-layout#117 (not taking a side, just highlighting it)

There are some advantages to having a trademark. But also an overly litigious trademark holder would also be a bad thing - enforcing it should be a last resort.

An alternative could be some arms-length independent foundation to hold the IP (how this is done is off topic so lets not go into detail here)

[rsc]

It is correct for Go to appear in that list, as Google has filed for a trademark for both the Go name and the Go logo in the United States. You can see the records by doing:

1. Visit http://tess2.uspto.gov/.
2. Click on "Basic Word Mark Search (New User)"
3. Change the Field dropdown to "Serial or Registration Number".
4. In the Search Term box type "88100955" (for the word Go) or "88100957" (for the Go logo) and type Enter.

Note that the trademarks are of course scoped to the area "IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer programs and downloadable computer programs, namely compilers and reference libraries, that implement a statically typed, compiled computer programming language for use in developing, building and managing other software."

The filing for the word Go happened along with the filing for the Go logo.

I agree with you that there should be some guidance about how to use these and what is and is not permitted. That's #58412, so I will close this issue in favor of that one.