[theme-reviewers] Clarification of Theme Naming Rules

[Chip Bennett]

We really don't want to get *too* much into trademark issues (which is
really what we're dealing with, on the question of Theme names); but it is
important to ensure we do due diligence to protect Theme developers'
identity in that regard.

If, by using a term, one Theme may be confused for, or mistakenly assumed
to be affiliated with or endorsed by another Theme, then that's an inherent
issue (the very issue addressed by the trademark concept). So, in general,
yes: we would want to treat any term used in a Theme name on a first-come,
first-served basis.

But, with so many Themes, it is not always possible (or beneficial) to be
extremely rigid in this regard. So if there's ever a question about a
specific Theme Name, feel free to ask in-ticket, or here on the list.


On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 6:32 PM, yulian yordanov <yul.yordanov at gmail.com>wrote:

>  Tricky situation. In general all themes have to have unique names, but in
> a list of several hundred (or thousand) themes in WP repo I'm not sure if
> such check might be done by human. We'll need a some kind of automated
> filter.
>
> Fingli
>
>
> On 31.1.2013 г. 01:03 ч., Stuart Wider wrote:
>
> Hi Guys,
> I note that in the theme review guidelines that is says...
> "Themes are *not* to use related Theme names (e.g. *WP Twenty Eleven*, *Twenty
> Eleven WP*, *The Twenty Eleven*, etc.) in their name"
>
>  Does this mean that if a theme on the repository already has used a
> particular word in its name that it cannot be used in another themes name?
>
>  Lets take Emil's theme for example.. The word 'Responsive' is a common
> usage word.
>
>  Does the rule above intend that no other theme could use a common usage
> word such as 'Responsive' in their title, and that Responsive theme itself
> has the only rights to use that word in a title, on first come first served
> basis?
>
>  Here's some quick made up examples of what I mean...
>
>  Super Responsive
> Mobile Responsive
> Responsive to the Max
>
>  Would those pass as theme names with the above rule? or not allowed?
>
>  If those names were not allowed then it would follow that if I decided
> to release a theme called 'Mobile' then no one else would be able to name
> their theme with the word 'Mobile' in it eg. Ultra Mobile, Mobile Plus,
> Mega Mobile.
>
>  To sum up...
> I'm seeking clarification on whether common usage words can be included in
> new theme name, even if an existing theme uses the common usage word.
>
>  Its an interesting conundrum ;)
>
>  Many Thanks,
> Stuart
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> theme-reviewers mailing listtheme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.orghttp://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>
>
> --
> yulian yordanov
> post-scriptum.info
>
> _______________________________________________
> theme-reviewers mailing list
> theme-reviewers at lists.wordpress.org
> http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.wordpress.org/pipermail/theme-reviewers/attachments/20130130/2e5a78ce/attachment.htm>