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Thread: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

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  1. #1
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    Exclamation HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    I found this on Reddit and I was amazed nobody is talking about it over here. Well the site http://www.hmrgroup.co.uk/ is been using this logo which is strictly forbidden by the Ubuntu trademark policy http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy

    Here is HMR:



    Ubuntu's Logo:

    Last edited by Orlsend; May 15th, 2009 at 10:39 AM.

  2. #2
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Quote Originally Posted by Orlsend View Post
    I found this on Reddit and I was amazed nobody is talking about it over here. Well the site http://www.hmrgroup.co.uk/ Been using this logo which is strictly forbidden by the Ubuntu trademark http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy

    Here is HMR:



    Ubuntu's Logo:

    It's a clear rip-off.

    I don't know how those guys designing the logo for that company thought nobody was going to notice.

    There are millions of Ubuntu users.

    Have you already contacted Canonical?

  3. #3
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Canonical should sue!

  4. #4
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Quote Originally Posted by dspari1 View Post
    Canonical should sue!
    No they shouldn't at first.

    HMR most likely is unaware that the guys they hired to make the logo used an existing one.

    I'm sure that if Canonical brings that to their attention, HMR will change the logo.

  5. #5
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    No I havent noticed Canonical, I although over reddit theres big hype in the linux comunity so I am sure they already covered that.

    I think this email template would be the best thing:



    To whom it may concern:

    As I'm no doubt sure you are aware, your company is currently receiving some rather negative publicity due to your choice in logos being so very similar to that of the Ubuntu logo used by Canonical, Inc. (Reference: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1159916 )

    While it is a minuscule amount right now, I cannot help but note that such usage as shown on this page ( http://www.hmrgroup.co.uk/ ) is explicitly forbidden by the terms of use that Canonical issued for the logo of the Ubuntu distribution of Linux ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ ).

    I do not, myself, expect a response to this message. However, your courtesy in promptly altering your page to remove any images similar to that of the Ubuntu logo would be well received by myself, and the Linux community as a whole.

    Thank you, in advance, for your time and attention.

    [My Name],
    Ubuntu user and resident of [City, State I live in]

    Last edited by Orlsend; May 15th, 2009 at 10:35 AM.

  6. #6
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Quote Originally Posted by Orlsend View Post
    No I havent noticed Canonical, I although over reddit theres big hype in the linux comunity so I am sure they already covered that.

    I think this email template would be the best thing:



    To whom it may concern:

    As I'm no doubt sure you are aware, your company is currently receiving some rather negative publicity due to your choice in logos being so very similar to that of the Ubuntu logo used by Canonical, Inc. (Reference: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1159916 )

    While it is a minuscule amount right now, I cannot help but note that such usage as shown on this page ( http://www.hmrgroup.co.uk/ ) is explicitly forbidden by the terms of use that Canonical issued for the logo of the Ubuntu distribution of Linux ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ ).

    I do not, myself, expect a response to this message. However, your courtesy in promptly altering your page to remove any images similar to that of the Ubuntu logo would be well received by myself, and the Linux community as a whole.

    Thank you, in advance, for your time and attention.

    [My Name],
    Ubuntu user and resident of [City, State I live in]

    Just to be sure, I'll inform them.

  7. #7
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Quote Originally Posted by Orlsend View Post
    I think this email template would be the best thing:
    You can notify Canonical of anyone ripping off the Ubuntu trademark yourself:

    http://www.ubuntu.com/contact/trademarkviolation

    It's their job to chase these things up really.

  8. #8
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    HMR Group seems to be two years older than Canonical. I wonder if HMR had this logo before Canonical did.

    Also, I don't think it's possible to trademark the concept of a logo featuring three people holding hands in a circle.

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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Quote Originally Posted by Giant Speck View Post
    Also, I don't think it's possible to trademark the concept of a logo featuring three people holding hands in a circle.
    Sure it is. Maybe not three people holding hands in a circle, but that's not what the logo is (I know that it represents three people, but they aren't people). I see a circle with some dots.

    It's is a copy/paste of the Ubuntu logo, with different colours.
    Last edited by billgoldberg; May 15th, 2009 at 10:35 AM.

  10. #10
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    Re: HMR group possibly stealing the Ubuntu Logo

    Quote Originally Posted by Giant Speck View Post
    HMR Group seems to be two years older than Canonical. I wonder if HMR had this logo before Canonical did.
    This was my first question that came to mind, which came first HMR or Canonical?

    Quote Originally Posted by metromapper View Post
    Aren't you all getting off topic

    I think it is a copyright infringement, based on my experiences in this area. However, the main issue is whether or not HRM would play nice and change the logo just with an email. If not, then ubuntu would have to hire lawyers to bring an international law suit against HRM, which would be costly even if they win the case.

    The other issue is that both companies are in different trademark 'classes,' ie., they don't provide the same types of services, so it might be hard to argue brand confusion in the lawsuit. This Ubuntu text (not logo) is registered in 3 classes (9, 41, 42) according to the USPTO since 2006-10-03: http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?r...entry=76616408

    Check out all the other Ubuntu's registered (19) in different classes just in the US.

    [update] direct links don't work, so go here, click New User Form Search (Basic), then type ubuntu: http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?...glish&p_d=trmk

    Also, I don't see the logo officially registered (unless it's under a different name). This just means they'd have a bit less legal protection with the logo if they take the case to court.

    -------------------

    Side note: I designed a logo for a non-profit company back in 2004, but it never got used. The weird thing is that one of the variations looked a lot like the current Ubuntu logo, so when I saw it later, it was really freaky to me. This logo of mine never saw the light of day (the went with something totally different), but it's weird. Even the colors I chose (for a multi-cultrual international institution) were very similar.
    You bring up good points, many people here are a bit too "Ubuntu-centric" to even realize that the word Ubuntu was used long before Mark Shuttleworth started using it by http://ubuntu.org/ should these people sue Canonical?...no, I think not.

    As you have also shown other people came up with this logo design before Ubuntu started using it, as you have clearly shown your design. Should you sue HMR and Canonical?...no, I think not.

    The Ubuntu logo clearly is Not as original as the "Ubuntu-centric" minded people think it is, just as the utilization of the word Ubuntu is not original either.

    Utilization of the Ubuntu word and Ubuntu logo may only be original to the Linux/Open Source community but that is it! Reality encompasses many different variables beyond Linux, beyond Open Source. Just as people in general should not be ego-centric or ethno-centric, perhaps Ubuntu users should not be so Ubuntu-Centric.
    Last edited by HappinessNow; May 16th, 2009 at 01:08 PM.

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