O’Reilly protecting the “Web 2.0″ name
A few of us were so busy drinking nice red wine and chatting about Web 2.0 yesterday that we didn’t notice O’Reilly attempting to protect the use of “Web 2.0″ as a service mark and prevent its use in conjunction with a 3rd party conference.
Thus did controversy ensue.
I can’t help thinking that O’Reilly are victims of their own success here. Like it or not, “Web 2.0″ has stuck pretty well as a term. Protecting their Web 2.0 conference while still hoping to keep it in popular use is going to be a difficult line to walk.
How is anyone else going to have conferences about what is, after all, a popular subject? Well, in this instance, O’Reilly are offering to let the “IT@Cork Web 2.0 conference” go ahead this time, but have requested that they agree not to use the name for future conference.
It seems Tim O’Reilly himself is on holiday. I wonder whether things will change when he returns.
May 26th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
In light of today’s news, digg this one:
http://www.effengud.com/web21a/index.htm
May 28th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Update: O’Reilly’s VP of communications has this to say: “We’re not claiming exclusive use of “Web 2.0″ in all contexts. Our service mark applies only to “Web 2.0″ when used in the *title* of “live events” such as conferences and tradeshows.”
Like many people, I’m waiting to hear what Tim will say about all of this when he gets back.
May 31st, 2006 at 9:25 am
Tim is back, with a detailed response.
June 6th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
…and User Friendly has a response.