Sorry to bug you all with this (not being on the developers' list myself), but I was wondering if I am the only person to wonder about the use of the name "Mailman." It is used by Endymion (www.endymion.com) for both the commercial and the (excellent, free) standard versions of their WWW-POP3 interface software. I am running both on the same server and about once or twice a day get confused over which I am reading about. Apart from the confusion of a few users, maybe the development team should look into the use of the name (from a legal perspective).
Apologies if this has already been taken care of, just trying to be helpful.
--chris
On Mon, Feb 22, 1999 at 01:54:45PM -0800, James Strickland wrote:
<SARCASM>Definately, we should use something like PostalDeliveryPerson as the name</SARCASM>
Seriously, unless Mailman is a trademark, then I don't see a reason to change, this is the common usage of the term for all those not PC impared.
Chris
| Christopher Petrilli | petrilli@amber.org
On Mon, 22 Feb 1999, Christopher G. Petrilli wrote:
<STOOPINGTOYOURLEVEL>Or spelling impaired, I suppose.</STOOPINGTOYOURLEVEL>
FWIW, IMHO there are problems with using "man" to somehow, magically, mean "person". I don't suppose you've ever heard of kids who don't believe it's possible for a woman to be a firefighter or a letter carrier? I have. If you believe it's ok for our kids to grow up with such prejudices, then you, in the words of the other objector, have your head on wrong.
-- James Strickland Ever heard of someone shovelling personure in Personitoba?
On Mon, 22 Feb 1999, John Viega wrote:
Despite any arguments anyone might make regardless of their strength of weakness, the name of this software won't be changing.
That's fine by me, I was just meaning to point out a possible consideration *if* the name was changing.
-- James Strickland
James Strickland wrote:
What is the problem with "man" being in there?
Don't go all PC on us here. "Mailman" is an appropriate term, simply because of the connotations of a guy back in the 50's bringing the mail to your door. If it was named "Mailperson", then people would think somebody has their head on wrong.
-g
-- Greg Stein, http://www.lyra.org/
I think he was joking. :)
:===========================================================: : Mike Kennedy mkennedy@cs.ucr.edu : : Systems Administrator (909) 787-2946 : : Computer Science Department : : University of California, Riverside : :===========================================================:
Christopher Kolar wrote:
John started the software in 1996, I believe, and started using the name almost immediately. Endymion didn't release their Mailman software until September 1997 (found via DejaNews).
Strictly speaking, I think if Endymion happended to trademark the name (as it relates to computer software since "mailman" is a common word otherwise), John's prior use probably would not invalidate their mark. I may be mistaken, but I believe prior use only applies to patents, rather than trademarks. I bet they would have a difficult time of obtaining a trademark on such a term, in any case.
Anyhow... we could say that Endymion usurped the name :-)
Cheers, -g
-- Greg Stein, http://www.lyra.org/
On Mon, Feb 22, 1999 at 01:54:45PM -0800, James Strickland wrote:
<SARCASM>Definately, we should use something like PostalDeliveryPerson as the name</SARCASM>
Seriously, unless Mailman is a trademark, then I don't see a reason to change, this is the common usage of the term for all those not PC impared.
Chris
| Christopher Petrilli | petrilli@amber.org
On Mon, 22 Feb 1999, Christopher G. Petrilli wrote:
<STOOPINGTOYOURLEVEL>Or spelling impaired, I suppose.</STOOPINGTOYOURLEVEL>
FWIW, IMHO there are problems with using "man" to somehow, magically, mean "person". I don't suppose you've ever heard of kids who don't believe it's possible for a woman to be a firefighter or a letter carrier? I have. If you believe it's ok for our kids to grow up with such prejudices, then you, in the words of the other objector, have your head on wrong.
-- James Strickland Ever heard of someone shovelling personure in Personitoba?
On Mon, 22 Feb 1999, John Viega wrote:
Despite any arguments anyone might make regardless of their strength of weakness, the name of this software won't be changing.
That's fine by me, I was just meaning to point out a possible consideration *if* the name was changing.
-- James Strickland
James Strickland wrote:
What is the problem with "man" being in there?
Don't go all PC on us here. "Mailman" is an appropriate term, simply because of the connotations of a guy back in the 50's bringing the mail to your door. If it was named "Mailperson", then people would think somebody has their head on wrong.
-g
-- Greg Stein, http://www.lyra.org/
I think he was joking. :)
:===========================================================: : Mike Kennedy mkennedy@cs.ucr.edu : : Systems Administrator (909) 787-2946 : : Computer Science Department : : University of California, Riverside : :===========================================================:
Christopher Kolar wrote:
John started the software in 1996, I believe, and started using the name almost immediately. Endymion didn't release their Mailman software until September 1997 (found via DejaNews).
Strictly speaking, I think if Endymion happended to trademark the name (as it relates to computer software since "mailman" is a common word otherwise), John's prior use probably would not invalidate their mark. I may be mistaken, but I believe prior use only applies to patents, rather than trademarks. I bet they would have a difficult time of obtaining a trademark on such a term, in any case.
Anyhow... we could say that Endymion usurped the name :-)
Cheers, -g
-- Greg Stein, http://www.lyra.org/
participants (6)
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Christopher G. Petrilli -
Christopher Kolar -
Greg Stein -
James Strickland -
John Viega -
Mike Kennedy