Immediately, now we have adopted a brand new trademark coverage for the Zcash logos. You’ll be able to learn the total coverage right here.
On this weblog publish, we spotlight a few of the necessary modifications, and clarify why we imagine this new method helps and allows larger decentralization of the Zcash ecosystem.
Background
For the previous 5 years, use of the Zcash logos was ruled by an settlement between the Zcash Basis (ZF) and the Electrical Coin Firm (ECC). Following ECC’s resolution to terminate that settlement, ZF turned the only steward of the logos. This offered a chance to evaluate and replace the trademark coverage to mirror the rising decentralization of the Zcash ecosystem.
Our overarching goal in making these modifications is to permit members of the Zcash neighborhood to make use of the logos as broadly and permissively as attainable for functions which might be pure and well-intentioned within the context of a decentralized cryptocurrency, whereas nonetheless defending the logos (and thus, Zcash’s identify, model and status) from misuse by those that search to mislead, deceive or defraud.
Key Adjustments
At a excessive stage, the modifications launched on this new trademark coverage are geared toward making it:
- Shorter and less complicated: The obvious change is that the brand new trademark coverage is shorter and less complicated. The outdated coverage was tailored from the Mannequin Trademark Pointers, that are supposed for open supply software program initiatives. By reviewing the coverage from the angle of Zcash as a cryptocurrency, we have been in a position to make it shorter, less complicated, and due to this fact simpler to know.
- Extra permissive: The brand new coverage can be extra permissive. The outdated coverage was drafted in a manner that required that sure makes use of be explicitly licensed. Whereas we sought to make it so simple as attainable to license the trademark, it nonetheless required paperwork, which discouraged some folks and groups.
- Minimized in scope: The brand new coverage seeks to reduce the scope of makes use of that should be explicitly licensed. For instance, the outdated coverage permitted using the Zcash logos on promotional items free of charge giveaways however not on the market. This meant that anybody who wished to make and promote Zcash-branded merchandise was required to acquire a license from ZF. The brand new coverage removes this restriction, that means that anybody can now make and promote Zcash-branded merchandise, like stickers, t-shirts or mugs.
Eliminating the Trademark’s Function in Zcash Governance
The trademark settlement created a governance position for the logos by stipulating that community upgrades have been topic to approval by each ECC and ZF. If both occasion objected to the activation of a community improve, the Zcash logos may now not be utilized to both fork of the blockchain.
The ZF Board believes that it’s now not acceptable to make use of the Zcash logos on this manner.
Zcash is a decentralized cryptocurrency, outlined by a documented protocol, and applied as open supply software program (most notably zcashd and Zebra). The character of open supply software program implies that anybody is free to repeat and modify that software program, together with making modifications to the best way the Zcash protocol is applied. They might then invite others to run that software program. If this have been to happen with out broad consensus assist throughout the Zcash neighborhood and ecosystem, it may lead to a contentious arduous fork.
Within the occasion of a persistent contentious arduous fork, as a way to stop person confusion, the Zcash Basis could use the Zcash logos to name for particular naming conventions at exchanges or different entities to obviously distinguish between the 2 tines of the fork. Nonetheless, the Zcash Basis will endeavor to not use the Zcash logos as a method of persuading the bigger public that one tine of the fork or the opposite is the canonical and solely professional model of Zcash.
Conclusion
As Zcash and its ecosystem evolves and develop into extra decentralized, the constructions which have constructed as much as assist Zcash should additionally evolve. The Zcash Basis is dedicated to making sure that it adapts to higher serve the Zcash mission and neighborhood. That dedication consists of supporting ongoing decentralization of the Zcash ecosystem, and this new trademark coverage is a vital step in that path.
As at all times, we’re eager to listen to the neighborhood’s suggestions and options (each of which helped inform our decision-making on this coverage), so please interact on the Zcash Neighborhood boards.