O'Reilly and CMP Exercise Trademark on 'Web 2.0' 229
theodp writes "On May 16, the USPTO notified CMP Media, which co-presents the Web 2.0 Conference with O'Reilly, that its trademark for Web 2.0 was entitled to be registered. Eight days later, CMP sicced its lawyers on not-for-profit IT@Cork, taking the networking organization to task for not only using the term Web 2.0 for its free conference, but also for linking to a What is Web 2.0 article penned by Tim O'Reilly." It should be noted that their trademark only applies to the titles of industry events (CMP is a show organizer).
Stupid. (Score:5, Insightful)
That's like Google suing everyone who uses the verbed form of their name.
'Web 2.0' Trademarked? (Score:3, Insightful)
Nothing to see here. (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, you wouldn't expect to be able to hold a local gathering of electronics vendors and call it the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
It's not like they can go after you for making an application and saying it's a "Web 2.0 app". In fact, they'd like that because it would validate their existence.
Buzzword or not, it's totally poor form (Score:3, Insightful)
I would be less inclined to call foul if they were filing suit against someone using their trademark to profit unjustly, but unfortunately it's not. This will only harm O'Reilly's reputation.
Tim, get on the case! Do something about this complete and utter ridiculousness.
Re:Stupid. (Score:5, Insightful)
Seems like all they want is the ability to host exclusive conferences on their trademarked topic, which is fine sort of, but I'm irked enough by companies abusing IP law that I'm not even going to think about paying to go to a conference where the topic is as vague as "Web 2.0" and the guys who run it are suing people who try to use "Web 2.0". Screw that. I'll go across the street to the Ajax confrence. At least people agree what that means even if it's overused.
Ireland != US (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:"only applies to the titles of industry events" (Score:3, Insightful)
I kinda hope they're granted the trademark. Then I won't have to listen to people babbling on about web 2.0 anymore.
O'Reilly Radar response... (Score:5, Insightful)
That's just an excerpt, follow the link for the whole [brief] comment. They also point out, rightfully so, that they would not be able to have a "LinuxWorld conference," and this is no different. It's a service mark, they have to defend it, end of story.
Re:O'Reilly Radar response... (Score:2, Insightful)
Aparently Tim is "Off the Grid", and unable to respond. What's the big deal anyway? OReilly and CMP are businesses trying to make money and have a good time while doing so, just like the rest of us.
Re:O'Reilly Radar response... (Score:0, Insightful)
Here's a good explanation about how IP rights... (Score:5, Insightful)
- Very, very insightful -
It is plainly wrong for companies to take our IP protection on overly broad terms, which are already in the public domain - but to then seek to enforce them is clearly even worse.
The writer of the Open Letter to Jeff Bezos knew what he was talking about.
Re:Stupid. (Score:4, Insightful)
Web 2.0. EVERYONE know's what that means, it's just completely generic.
It's version 2 of the Web.
What is the Web? Not something you can trademark that's for sure.
But ok, it's not really about that, it's about trademarking the name of a convention or trade show.
So what? Why is that any different?
I can't trademark Hamburger, and I shouldn't be able to for ANY reason. It's a freaking WORD with MEANING, not a name.
Sorry, I just really hate what lawyers have done to our society, this is pathetic.
Re:O'Reilly Radar response... (Score:1, Insightful)
This is a meaningless statement. LinuxWorld isn't a common word and a common versioning scheme. It also isn't an industry buzzword.
It's a service mark, they have to defend it, end of story.
No, that's not the end of the story. The story just becomes "Why is it a service mark in the first place?"
Flawed analogy (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Filing Objection (Score:3, Insightful)
That's one way... (Score:3, Insightful)