Two Open Source organizations have argued over a logo that could violate a trademark.

The Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA) was created to promote Open Source devices whose design is freely available under an open source license. Such devices, microcircuits, and printed circuit boards have been marked with a gear logo for a year and a half, so everyone can immediately see that this is a free device.

However, OSHWA recently received an official letter from the organization Open Source Initiative. They warn that the open hardware symbol may violate the registered trademark OSI, because it has an open gap in the bottom of the gear, which corresponds to an open loop in the lower part of the Open Source Initiative logo.

The Open Source Initiative complies with US law, which is required in writing to warn all potential violators of the trademark.

The OSHWA logo was created in a design competition, and the work was published under a Creative Commons license.
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OSHWA representatives ask the community for advice on what to do? If you agree to receive an OSI license (pdf), then they will be able to continue using the familiar logo, but in this case OSI will become the owner of the mark created at the competition. OSI will have the right to indicate where and how it can be used, so that OSI will gain control over what can be called open hardware, and what is not.

If you ignore the requirement and continue to use the old logo, it can be regarded as a violation of the law.

Now two open source organizations are negotiating how to deal with this situation. Maybe they will be able to conclude an agreement that will suit everyone.

You can express your opinion until August 16 on this page .