Open Cloud Initiative

In addition to founder, Sam Johnston, a number of well-known technology experts have contributed time, expertise and advice to the project. In particular we would like to thank Joi Ito, Bruce Perens, Sam Ruby and Simon Wardley for their support and contributions, as well as Creative Commons (whose vice president, Mike Linksvayer, provided very useful feedback on early drafts of the Open Cloud Principles and explained how to host video using open standards).

Thanks also to the members of the open-cloud group and everyone who provided (positive or negative) feedback which helped us to improve the resulting Open Cloud Principles.

The Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) is currently based in the Australian state of New South Wales where it is hosted by Australian Online Solutions Pty Ltd. We are in the process of migrating it to a Californian 501(c)(3) charity.

The mission of the Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) is expressed in its' mantra, simply "To define and protect 'Open Cloud'".

Sam Johnston of Australian Online Solutions founded the Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) and wrote the Open Cloud Principles (OCP) in April 2009.

The "Open Cloud" trademarks can only be used in association with approved products and services. The process of approval involves submitting an online application which will be reviewed by the community against the Open Cloud Principles (OCP). You will be advised when and if your application is successful, or if you need to provide further information or make changes, and you will be able to immediately commence using the marks according to agreed terms.

A list of pre-approved components will be maintained and using these components will significantly reduce the time the approval process takes.

If your service makes non-trivial changes (including to non-technical components such as terms of service) then those changes will need to be resubmitted for approval - it is better to do so in advance of making such changes.

The intention is to cover cloud computing in its entirity, but the following as specifically covered by the certification trademark itself:

International Class A: Computer hardware; Computer hardware for high-speed processing and storage of data using multiple CPU’s; Computer storage devices, namely, high-speed storage subsystems for storage and backup of electronic data either locally or via a telecommunications network; Data processing or computing equipment, namely, data processors, computers, computer hardware, and computer peripherals; Computer servers; Internet servers; Notebook and laptop computers; Computer software; Computer firmware; Computer software licensing; Computer software development tools; Computer software for managing computing resources; Computer software for delivery of computer applications and IT services; Computer software for the purchase, download and implementation of computer operating systems and applications; Computer software for application and database integration; Computer software for browsing the Internet and private networks; Computer operating systems; Operating system software used across servers, storage and networks to aggregate hardware resources; Downloadable software for web applications; Software for communications, data and file transfer via a global computer network; Downloadable computer programs via the internet and wireless devices; Computer software for the collection, editing, organizing, modifying, book marking, transmission, storage and sharing of data and information; Downloadable electronic data files and databases for use with computer software; Database management software for general use; Computer network hubs, switches and routers; Computer software and hardware for network management;

The trademark application specifies:

The certification mark, as intended to be used by authorized persons, is intended to certify that the goods and services conform to a set of published guidelines, pursuant to standards designated by the applicant.

The published guidelines are the Open Cloud Principles (OCP).

A certification mark is a special type of trademark which is used to certify attributes of others' products and services. According to the USPTO:

A certification mark is any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce with the owner’s permission by someone other than its owner, to certify regional or other geographic origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality, accuracy, or other characteristics of someone's goods or services, or that the work or labor on the goods or services was performed by members of a union or other organization.

In addition to any common law rights that may be applicable to the term "Open Cloud" the Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) applied for registration (#77705857) of the term with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on 2 April 2009. This is a "Class A" application for a certification mark on the Principal Register.

Additionally, the Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) asserts common law trademark rights in its chain link "OC" logo.