RD, the father of Node.js, recently issued a document calling on Oracle to release the “JavaScript” trademark.

According to reports, in 1995, Netscape cooperated with Sun Microsystems to create an interactive website. Engineer Brendan Eich spent 10 days creating the first version of JavaScript, a dynamic programming language with a syntax roughly similar to Sun’s Java language. Due to this partnership,Sun owns the “JavaScript” trademark. In 2009, Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems and acquired the “JavaScript” trademark for it.

RD noted that the “JavaScript” trademark has no commercial value to Oracle. Because the company doesn’t use the “JavaScript” trademark for any of its products other than Oracle’s JavaScript Extension Toolkit, and probably doesn’t plan to use it. Oracle isn’t even involved in the development of any JavaScript engines like V8, JavaScriptCore or Spidermonkey. Since Oracle’s use of the “JavaScript” trademark is “non-use”, so-called JavaScript trademark infringement is likely to be unenforceable in court.

However, this trademark is a dark cloud hanging over the JavaScript programming language. Law-abiding engineers are wary—even go to great lengths to avoid using it, which has led to the confusing term ECMAScript.

RD believes that the greatest value Oracle can derive from the “JavaScript” trademark is to award it to the Public Domain, earning its reputation. Because using a worthless trademark to do brand marketing and gain a good reputation is undoubtedly the right decision. So, Oracle, please release the “JavaScript” trademark.

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