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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Over the past week Digium has received a number of charged responses
regarding the recent change in policy regarding use of Digium trademarked terms
in Google AdWords. Some of the responses supported our attempts to better
control the use of Digium trademarked terms. Some of the responses disagreed
with the policy, but respected Digium’s right to have changed the policy.
Others were from individuals who clearly were unhappy with the change and the
process by which it was implemented. We have listened carefully to the
feedback, and as a result are relaxing our Google AdWord policy. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>While we did provide Google a list of organizations that would be
authorized to use the Digium trademarked terms, in retrospect it’s
apparent that we underestimated the number of organizations that were utilizing
Digium trademarked terms in their Google AdWords marketing campaigns.
Underestimating the magnitude of this policy change also resulted in inadequate
planning of the implementation of the change – we simply could have done
a better job of communicating the proposed change in advance of it being
implemented. We also could have better understood the actual mechanics of
Google’s enforcement engine – and better anticipated the
corresponding result.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In short, we now believe we made a mistake and are working to relax the
requirements for using Digium trademarked terms in Google AdWords. The
resulting change will reinstate trademark rights for the vast majority of those
using the terms. For the confusion and frustration created by this event, we
sincerely apologize.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A common test that I often use in determining the proper reaction when
something goes wrong is – were we doing it for the right reasons? In this
case the answer is absolutely yes. On the part of Digium and the Asterisk
community and ecosystem, there’s value in ensuring that the trademarked
terms are used in a legal, consistent, and ethical fashion. While it is
important for Digium to protect its trademarks, we now better understand just
how significant an impact changes in this area can have and just how important
it is for any proposed change to be judiciously derived and methodically
implemented. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Thank you for your continued support of Digium.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Danny Windham<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>CEO<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Digium, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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