Perl is Alive!

[Nigel Hamilton]

>
> There's no problem at all with the idea of Tom signing the domain over
> to TPF. That sounds like a good idea to me.
>

Great to hear! ;-)


>
> The problem is with your use of the word "back". Which implies that TPF
> once previously owned the domain. That's not true. Tom has always owned it.
>
>
Sorry. I should have been more clear.

TPF have never owned the domain "perl.com" - but they have always had a
right to own it. The TPF and the community have a right to "get the goodwill
back".

Tom has never been the owner of the goodwill and trademarks associated with
Perl.

Larry Wall released Perl publicly before Tom registered perl.com. The
goodwill and trade marks in "perl" were owned by Larry Wall and more
recently, by assignment, The Perl Foundation.

Tom definitely registered "perl.com" first but that doesn't mean he is the
rightful owner of "perl.com". There is now well established case law
regarding cyber-squatting[1].

Fortunately I don't think anyone needs to go anywhere near a court with
this. As I say, I think Tom is amenable to being asked nicely for it.

The TPF website extolls the community to help protect the Perl trade mark
[2] - why don't they lead by example and get on the phone?

I believe the Perl trademark and domain names will still be here long after
we're all gone - but I think now is the time for TPF to show leadership and
return "perl.com" to its rightful owner.


Nige

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting

*Cybersquatting* (also known as *domain squatting*), according to the United
States federal law known as the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection
Act<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticybersquatting_Consumer_Protection_Act>,
is registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad
faith<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_faith>intent to profit from the
goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else

[2] http://www.perlfoundation.org/perl_trademark

But our responsibility is also partly the responsibility of the whole Perl
community. By helping us protect the Perl trademark, you help us protect the
openness and integrity of the Perl language