O'Reilly Radar Won't Sue IT@Cork
O'Reilly Radar this morning has a post defending their service mark protection of the term "Web 2.0" from use by other events, but says it went about it all wrong with IT@Cork and will not object to the Irish non-profit's use of the term this year. The post concedes that they have gone about this matter all wrong.
The post was signed by "Brady" who made clear that Tim O'Reilly is on vacation this week and not involved at all.
This resolves the immediate issue of what happens in Ireland on June 8, except that now I have to revise my revision of my revised PowerPoint presentation due today.
The bigger issue is what is their expectation of the use of the term overall. If I used "Web 2.0" as a term in my book or title, for example, would they come after me? If another conference has a panel or speaker discussing "Web 2.0?" what is the O'Reilly-CMP intention?
It seems to me, this action has managed to insert confusion where none was needed. I do "Web 2.0" is a lame and inaccurate term and the industry would be wise to just adopt "social media" and let the lawyers and producers go off muttering to themselves.
You know, I really dislike the term "Web 2.0", anyway. I had originally used it in preparations for a seminar on social media I gave earlier this week but discarded it as too buzzword-y and confusing. "Social media" is a more accurate and descriptive term. Heck, I had to go to Wikipedia to look up the term "Web 2.0," just to make sure I was using it properly!
Posted by: Heidi Miller | May 26, 2006 at 10:49 AM
no no Shel, we should call it "web sue.0" !!
Posted by: /pd | May 26, 2006 at 11:39 AM
Good one, Pete. Maybe we should discuss this over sushi in my favorite Japanese-Jewish restaurant--Sosumi.
Posted by: Shel Israel | May 26, 2006 at 11:46 AM
I've posted a strategy that O'Reilly could have used to remain aligned with their stated principals: O'Reilly, Get Real
Posted by: Liam @ Web 2.5 Blog | May 29, 2006 at 10:43 PM