- cross-posted to:
- linux@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- linux@lemmy.ml
Today we’re very excited to announce the open-source release of the Windows Subsystem for Linux. This is the result of a multiyear effort to prepare for this, and a great closure to the first ever issue raised on the Microsoft/WSL repo:
I still will never understand why it’s not called Linux Subsystem for Windows.
There’s a trademark for Linux so Microsoft can’t name a product starting with Linux.
https://xcancel.com/richturn_ms/status/1245481405947076610
So they can use Linux in the name, just not at the beginning? We’re so stupid. Can they do Windows Subsystem for Coke? Or Windows Subsystem for McDonald’s? Or Windows Subsystem for MacOs?
Good gravy.
I think trademark law has a strange history in the US
I’m sure it does, I was just being facetious.
Copyright is always stupid
This is trademark, not copyright
Yeah but they aren’t wrong
Sorry, “gravy” is a registered trademark of Gravy, Inc.: https://trademarks.justia.com/854/89/gravy-85489026.html
I think this only applies to using the word “gravy” for payment services or a website referring to such a payment service. There was a prior trademark on the word for use with plush toy products.
Indeed, it’s why Apple could be trademarked as the name of an electronics company. But you can’t rock up to the trademark office and register “Pear” for a company selling pear-related products.
Disney presents Good Gravy®️
Good Gravy®️ Presentation for Disney
Still doesnt explain why it wasn’t called Windows Linux Subsystem (WLS)
I think it is because Windows has many subsystems, it’s just that you don’t hear about most of them aside from WSL.
So it is referring to the particular Windows Subsystem (of which there are many) that can run or emulate Linux.
I got hung up on this before too but it’s apparently “Windows Subsystem for (using) Linux”