Course About Software, license, permission and credit?

[Frank263]

Hello,

i am planning on making my first course, however I have a question.

I'd like to make a course about programming and how to make a good software.

In order to do that I will have to explain which softwares and environments my students should use and maybe where to look at if they need a documentation to read. 

For example, if I explain how to make a good software using Java programming language, I will have to explain them which programming IDE I use, and I would like to explain them how to use it, how to navigate through it. Then I will explain them what is Java programming language, how to use it and where they should look for if they need help or code explanations, so I will show them online websites such as Java website or maybe even other online resources.

My question is, if I do all the above, should I ask permission to Java company, also to the IDE developer company and finally also to all the owners of the online websites resources or I should be ok just by leaving links and giving credits in the course to them?

Thanks in advance.

Regards.

[FrankKane · Accepted solution]

These are questions that really only a lawyer is qualified to answer definitively. However, often companies have posted guidelines on how you may use their trademarks. For Java, it seems fairly permissive:

https://www.oracle.com/legal/trademarks.html

You'd have to check on your IDE. 99% sure it's OK to do what you want, but a few companies do prohibit creating training courses about their products without a license, since they want to make money off of training. If your IDE is open source that's unlikely to be an issue.