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Defending Our Brand

letsencrypt.org

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Re: Defending Our Brand

#63

Post by distances »

jakobegger wrote: post #50
nik736 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you looking for another provider? Just use Lets Encrypt ;-)

Lets encrypt certs are only valid for 3 months. In many situations the auto-renewal stuff is inconvenient. Then its easier to just buy a commercial cert that's valid for a few years.

The Comodo cert was for 5 years at a total of $25 IIRC. I didn't consider that bad at all, especially as that was add-and-forget.

Of course that's still like a money printing machine, and wildcards and greenbars are much more. But the deal was pretty fine for my personal domain. To be frank, I would probably have renewed with them.

Re: Defending Our Brand

#64

Post by sokoloff »

jordigh wrote: post #38
egeozcan wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see "Start Encrypt" as a capitalist answer to a competing product with (very) cheesy marketing, while what Comodo tries to do is purely malicious. IMHO we can't put them in the same basket.

It sounds similar enough to me "Let's Encrypt" that it could confuse people. The trademark system is supposed to prevent confusion, which seems to me like what "Start Encrypt" could do. Thus, that also seems to me like a trademark problem.

I tend to disagree (on the latter point). Encrypt is a generic word here. I don't think it's appropriate (nor consistent with the law) to grant broad trademark protection for generic terms.

To me, it's closer to "Joe's Pizza," "Anna's Pizza", and "Arlington Pizza" all selling, well pizza. Could someone confuse Arlington Pizza and Anna's Pizza? Sure, especially if Anna's Pizza is in Arlington and the owner of Arlington Pizza is named Anna. Nevertheless, you can't trademark " Pizza"

Re: Defending Our Brand

#67

Post by danra »

CommanderData wrote: post #11

Learning this, I will not renew my certs with Comodo. This is childish behaviour on Comodos part. If it helps I'll advise any companies I consult to do the same until this changes. Money is the only thing this company will understand.

I've avoided buying a code signing certificate from Comodo just because of their reputation, even though they offered the cheapest price.

To me, this behavior reinforces that that was the right decision.

Re: Defending Our Brand

#69

Post by jordigh »

sokoloff wrote: post #64
jordigh wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds similar enough to me "Let's Encrypt" that it could confuse people. The trademark system is supposed to prevent confusion, which seems to me like what "Start Encrypt" could do. Thus, that also seems to me like a trademark problem.

I tend to disagree (on the latter point). Encrypt is a generic word here. I don't think it's appropriate (nor consistent with the law) to grant broad trademark protection for generic terms. To me, it's closer to "Joe's Pizza," "Anna's Pizza", and "Arlington Pizza" all selling, well pizza. Could someone confuse Arlington Pizza and Anna's Pizza? Sure, especially if Anna's Pizza is in Arlington and the owner of Arlingto…

"Encrypt" on its own is generic but the " Encrypt" form of it doesn't sound generic enough to me. Trademarks don't have to be original to be trademarkable, just not cause confusion. I can see people getting confused by "start encrypt" vs "let's encrypt". There could be a case for trademark confusion there.

> Nevertheless, you can't trademark " Pizza"

Yep, you totally can. Again, because originality has got nothing to do with trademarks:

Hot Pizza: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:i80...

Scratch Pizza: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:i80...

Match Pizza: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:i80...

Anytime Pizza: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4808:i80...

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