If there is a better email address I should use to discuss issues like this than the general mailing list, let me know.
I have read through this page, but still have a few questions:
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symbol-information/
As I have mentioned before, I am developing an open source (using the MIT license) Android app for accessing the AMSAT Satellite status webpage:
It uses both the submission form for sending in reports and the published API for retrieving data from the website found here:
I don't really plan to use it with any other services. First off, point #1 on the agreement says that I can only use the AMSAT name and logo while a paid member of AMSAT. While I am a paid-up member and have no plans in any near future to not be a paid member, I'm not sure how this affects the app itself. Obviously, if I am not paid up, I could not do any further development on this app, however, if my membership does lapse in the future for any reason, does that mean that any existing versions of this app that have already been released to the Google Play store or otherwise hosted on websites like GitHub will need to be immediately taken down?
If I did use the logo somehow, I'm not sure how I'd use it if it would be part of the launcher icon or just on some about screen in the app, but in either case, if the logo was included in the app, it would most likely be part of the source code and available via GitHub where I am currently posting it as an open source project. That also means it would be easy for someone to fork it and, while my use of it might be in compliance, theirs would not. I don't expect this to happen as this is a pretty basic app and a pretty niche market, but it is possible if I upload it as open source. The alternative could be that I just do some post-processing and add in the logo at the time I generate a release build and use some generic icon in the open source repo. That makes development a bit more awkward, but would be possible.
Finally, just dealing with the name itself. I have picked the rather basic name for this app of "AMSAT Status" to be the Android app for the AMSAT status webpage. Per point #2, does that mean I should actually be using " AMSAT® Status". Whenever I write the name of this app? Is this even a legal use of that name? Being the app's name, it will be rendered by other programs like the Homescreen app launcher where I don't have font control so does it violate point #2 if it's not Helvetica/Arial? I see that page has the name AMSAT rendered in both Open Sans and Source Sans Pro so maybe I am being overly strict on that. Finally, for the same reason as the logo in the last paragraph, would I need to keep the name AMSAT Status out of the Git repo and only change the application name to AMSAT Status when generating a release binary so there's no risk of someone forking it and releasing their own app with AMSAT in the name accidentally?
I'm not a big fan of having to deal with complex licensing agreements and I'm considering whether it's worth it to use the name AMSAT at all or just go with something more generic to avoid any issues. I'm happy to promote AMSAT, in general, but I don't like having to be overly worried about being in compliance and having to deal with more lengthy procedures to follow.
Currently, I have kept my app in a closed beta on the play store for only the select few that have asked for access, but I would like to get this sorted out and make the app public.
-Loren K7IW