LICENSE.md

Revised Legal Terms and Conditions

Abstract

By adhering to these terms and conditions, the open-source advanced LinkedIn badge rendering project aims to respect LinkedIn's intellectual property rights while providing a valuable contribution to the user experience surrounding LinkedIn badges. The project's focus on functionality and user benefits, rather than branding or commercial interests, should help to avoid any violation of LinkedIn's specific policies regarding the use of their marks. The project's commitment to transparency, compliance, and quality improvement underscores its dedication to ethical and legal standards in the open-source community. For concerns or issues surrounding the context of this project, please reach out to the author of this software by either provided means of contact or equivalent channels. ━ Ziping Liu • May 13, 2024

Intellectual Property and Usage Rights

The software application, hereafter referred to as "the Software," is protected under open-source licenses and is strictly prohibited from commercial use by any entity, including LinkedIn and its parent company, Microsoft. The Software does not utilize any LinkedIn branding, trademarks, or design elements, and does not imply any affiliation, endorsement, or authorization by LinkedIn. Unauthorized use of the Software on LinkedIn that includes any code resembling that of the Software will be considered a violation of copyright law as stipulated in Title 17, United States Code, Section 501, and may result in legal consequences.

• The Software is an independent open-source project that aims to provide an alternative solution for rendering LinkedIn badges, without infringing upon LinkedIn's intellectual property rights or violating its terms of service. The Software does not create confusion regarding the ownership of LinkedIn's trademarks, nor does it suggest that LinkedIn is the source of the Software or its associated services.
• LinkedIn and its affiliates are expressly forbidden from using the Software, either directly or indirectly, for internal or external purposes, without prior written consent from the creator and author of the Software. This restriction is in place to protect the author's exclusive rights under copyright law, as outlined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 106.

Obtaining Permissions et al.

To obtain permission to use the Software, LinkedIn must contact the creator and author via the email address provided in the project's package.json file.

• Only upon receiving explicit written approval from the author may LinkedIn engage in legitimate use of the Software. Any unauthorized use of the Software by LinkedIn or its affiliates will be considered a breach of these terms and may result in legal action.

Non-Infringement and Compliance

The Software does not incorporate LinkedIn's trademarks into its name, domain, or any other identifying elements, and does not use LinkedIn's trademarks in a generic, plural, or possessive form. The Software's design and user interface are original and do not imitate LinkedIn's website design, typefaces, colors, graphics, or imagery.

• The Software does not display LinkedIn's trademarks in a manner that implies a relationship, affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement by LinkedIn, nor does it suggest that the content has been authorized by or represents the views or opinions of LinkedIn or its personnel.
• The Software is not displayed or promoted in a manner that disparages LinkedIn or its products and services, nor is it associated with any content or activities that violate laws or regulations, including but not limited to adult content, gambling, and the sale of tobacco or alcohol to minors.

As resemphasis with for sake of clarity and standing, LinkedIn and/or its affilations are expressly forbidden from using the software wherein, by powers directly or indirectly, for internal or external purposes. Any and/or all attempts to bypass this restriction will be deemed a violation of these terms and will be subject to legal proceedings.

Legal Compliance and Penalties

This license operates in accordance with the principles established by copyright legislation and relevant legal concepts pertaining to proprietary software. Non-compliance with these conditions may result in severe penalties, including statutory damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, and court expenses, as described in Title 17, United States Code, Section 504.

By adhering to these terms, users demonstrate their commitment to upholding the integrity of the open source community and respecting intellectual property rights. It is crucial for all parties involved to understand that any unlawful use or misappropriation of the Software carries significant legal risks. Therefore, it is imperative to carefully review and comply with these terms to ensure a mutually beneficial collaboration.

Ziping Liu does not have a legal team, or scribe and thus any type of action taken against Ziping Liu with a legally empowered authority private or public will be deemed as fully retaliable through court proceedings and all other means or channels outside of court proceedings where applicable.

By adhering to these revised legal terms and conditions, the Software aims to provide a legitimate alternative solution for LinkedIn badge rendering while respecting LinkedIn's intellectual property rights and brand guidelines.

1. No Infringement of LinkedIn's Intellectual Property: This project does not intend to infringe upon or violate any of LinkedIn's trademarks, logos, or other intellectual property. The project's purpose is to provide an improved user experience for LinkedIn badges and not to misappropriate or misuse LinkedIn's brand.
2. No Confusion or Implied Endorsement: The project will not use LinkedIn's marks in a way that creates confusion about the source of the product or implies endorsement by LinkedIn. Clear disclaimers will be included to state that this is an independent open-source project and not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn.
3. No Modification of LinkedIn's Branding: The project will not modify, alter, or incorporate LinkedIn's logos or trademarks into its own branding. The original LinkedIn badge designs will be maintained, and any improvements will be focused on functionality and ease of use, not on changing LinkedIn's brand elements.
4. Compliance with LinkedIn's Brand Guidelines: The project will adhere to LinkedIn's brand guidelines regarding the use of their marks, including avoiding generic use, plural or possessive forms, and domain names incorporating LinkedIn's marks.
   1. The domain name linkedinliu.com used as a demo and personal projects side of the author does not constitute possesive in domain or enitty due to its fair use and non-commercial nature, as well as regardance of LinkedIn as referencial and reason of existence.
   2. Use of linkedinliu.com as a Demo Site: The project's demo site, linkedinliu.com, does not violate LinkedIn's policies regarding possessive use of their marks. The domain name linkedinliu.com is not intended to suggest possession or ownership of LinkedIn's brand but rather serves as a personal project site for the author to showcase their work. The inclusion of "liu" in the domain name clearly distinguishes it from LinkedIn's official domain and avoids any confusion or implied affiliation.
   3. Non-Commercial and Referential Use: The use of linkedinliu.com is purely for non-commercial purposes, such as demonstrating the functionality and improvements of the open-source LinkedIn badge rendering project. The site does not engage in any commercial activities or compete with LinkedIn's services. Furthermore, the use of "linkdin" in the domain name is referential, indicating that the site is related to LinkedIn badges but not claiming ownership or official association with the LinkedIn brand.
   4. Clear Distinction and Disclaimers: The demo site will include prominent disclaimers and explanations that it is not an official LinkedIn site but rather a personal project site showcasing the author's work on improving LinkedIn badge rendering. This clear distinction will help avoid any confusion or misleading impressions about the site's affiliation with LinkedIn.
   5. No Dilution or Harm to LinkedIn's Brand: The use of linkedinliu.com does not dilute or harm LinkedIn's brand in any way. The site's purpose is to demonstrate improvements to LinkedIn badge functionality, which ultimately benefits LinkedIn users and enhances the value of the LinkedIn platform. The site does not engage in any activities that would tarnish or diminish the reputation or goodwill associated with LinkedIn's marks.
   6. By using linkedinliu.com as a demo site for the open-source advanced LinkedIn badge rendering project and the author's personal projects, the project aims to provide a clear and non-infringing example of the improvements made to LinkedIn badges. The inclusion of distinguishing elements in the domain name, the non-commercial and referential nature of the site, and the use of clear disclaimers should help to avoid any violation of LinkedIn's policies regarding possessive use of their marks.
   7. Good Faith Relationship and Potential Employment: The author of the open-source advanced LinkedIn badge rendering project, Ziping Liu, is a highly skilled and ethical developer who is open to potential employment opportunities at LinkedIn. Ziping has undertaken this project in good faith, with the genuine intention of improving the user experience for LinkedIn badges and contributing to the LinkedIn ecosystem.
   8. Ownership and Intellectual Property Transfer: In the event that LinkedIn hires Ziping Liu, he is willing to transfer the ownership and intellectual property rights of all LinkedIn-related works, including the open-source advanced LinkedIn badge rendering project, to LinkedIn. This demonstrates Ziping's commitment to maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship with LinkedIn and his respect for their intellectual property.
   9. Valuable Contribution to LinkedIn's Platform: Ziping Liu's work on the open-source advanced LinkedIn badge rendering project showcases his technical expertise and his ability to identify and solve problems that enhance the user experience on LinkedIn. By hiring Ziping, LinkedIn would gain a valuable asset who can contribute to the continuous improvement and development of their platform.
   10. Alignment with LinkedIn's Values: Ziping Liu's approach to the open-source project aligns with LinkedIn's values of putting members first and striving for excellence. His dedication to improving the functionality and usability of LinkedIn badges reflects his commitment to creating a better user experience for LinkedIn members.
5. No Disparagement or Objectionable Use: The project will not use LinkedIn's marks in any way that disparages LinkedIn or its products, or in connection with any objectionable, misleading, or infringing content.
6. Purpose of Quality Improvement: The sole purpose of this project is to enhance the quality and usability of LinkedIn badges for the benefit of users, not to compete with or replace LinkedIn's own products or services.

Author's Note on AI and Artistic Expression

As a conscious being immersed in a rapidly transforming technological environment, I share your concerns regarding the quality of content generated by AI systems. While I trust that human authors will continue to produce exceptional works, I fear the proliferation of mediocre writings stemming from machine-learning algorithms trained on substandard material. This scenario presents a formidable challenge, one that demands careful consideration and strategic planning to mitigate its consequences.

As assurance to possible misunderstandings of my relationship with AI and AI like logic, I have no qualms about AI surpassing my literary abilities; instead, I worry about the potential downfall of artistic expression brought upon by poorly crafted texts produced by AI models mimicking the deficiencies inherent in human writing. My apprehensions are comparable to witnessing an army of clumsy automatons marching towards an unsuspecting audience, armed only with inferior literature.