What's the meaning of the Ubuntu logo? Where does this logo come from?
Best Answer
Ubuntu means "an ethic or humanist philosophy focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other". And the logo is a graphical representation of 3 people holding their arms out, making a circle. See these 2 images:
So the logo is perfectly describing the word Ubuntu.
Linux was already established as an
enterprise server platform in 2004.
But free software was still not a part
of everyday life for most computer
users. That's why Mark Shuttleworth
gathered a small team of developers
from one of the most established Linux
projects – Debian - and set out to
create an easy-to-use Linux desktop:
Ubuntu.
The vision for Ubuntu is part
social and part economic: free
software, available free of charge to
everybody on the same terms, and
funded through a portfolio of services
provided by Canonical.
To find out who was involved it is best to checkout the relevant Ubuntu mailing lists. An example would be ubuntu-devel from 2004 ordered by users.
If it's non-commercial, no problem. The trademark policy should allow this. If there's any doubt, you can email your plans to Canonical and you'll get a straight answer in writing. Here's the relevant extract:
Community advocacy. Ubuntu is built by, and largely for, its community. We share access to the Trademarks with the entire community for the purposes of discussion, development and advocacy. We recognise that most of the open source discussion and development areas are for non-commercial purposes and will allow the use of the trademarks in this context, provided:
the Trademark is used in a manner consistent with the Usage Guidelines below
there is no commercial intent behind the use
what you are referring to is in fact Ubuntu. If someone is confused into thinking that what isn't Ubuntu is in fact Ubuntu, you are probably doing something wrong
there is no suggestion (through words or appearance) that your project is approved, sponsored, or affiliated with Ubuntu or its related projects unless it actually has been approved by and is accountable to the Ubuntu Community Council
To keep people at Canonical happiest, you could adhere to the branding guidelines here:
They are design guidelines so aren't legal-issue-aimed but you'll find out the way Canonical wants things branded. For the Ubuntu Logo, you want page 38 onwards. You'll see how much space you need to give it and what you are allowed to do in the way of editing it (not much!)
Best Answer
Ubuntu means "an ethic or humanist philosophy focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other". And the logo is a graphical representation of 3 people holding their arms out, making a circle. See these 2 images:
So the logo is perfectly describing the word Ubuntu.