I cannot even imagine the ramification of such change throughout the software industry. All the packages, modules, artifacts, dns names, and the list continues.
PS: I am not commenting about the merit of the demand but the ramification.
Ramification… if using names requires permission, cities such as New York and San Francisco have a problems too, with effects fully as big as those in the software industry.
And you're right, these have large effects. But you're already so used to the effects you likely forgot they exist.
New York is derived from "York" which is derived from a word meaning "place of the yew trees". Who would we ask for permission? I don't think any yew trees are complaining.
The easy way out is to change the name to "ASF" and not use the full name "Apache Software Foundation". The downside is that it now becomes the "ASF Foundation" which is a big pill to swallow for the purists.
They don't need to change the internal use of 'apache'.
The ASF will keep 'apache.org' but the huge problem is that they will NEVER accept to add a reference on the front page of the website "If you want to find more about the Apache indigenous tribe, click here".
PS: I am not commenting about the merit of the demand but the ramification.