“IT@Cork is a not-for-profit networking organisation for IT professionals. IT@Cork organises regular information and networking events which are free for its members.
One of these events – the upcoming Web 2.0 half-day conference is the target of a cease and desist letter (below) from the legal team of O’Reilly publishers. Basically O’Reilly are claiming to have applied for a trademark for the term “Web 2.0″ and therefore IT@Cork can’t use the term for its conference. Apparantly use of the term “Web 2.0″ is a “flagrant violation” of their trademark rights!
Ironically I invited Tim O’Reilly to speak at this conference last February and his response (which I received on 15th of February) was:
“I would love to be able to do it, but my schedule is just too full for an additional international trip.”
So Tim was aware of the event in February but decided to wait until 2 weeks before the conference to set the lawyers on us.
As I mentioned, IT@Cork is a not-for-profit organisation and doesn’t have the resources available to O’Reilly – what do people suggest we do?”
This is absolutely ridicoulous, but I know what to do.
- First of all, stop talking about Web 2.0, let him stick it up … (hm, pardon my French).
- Second, skip Web 3.0, too, since that’s the theme of the next O’Reilly conference, (Defining Web 3.0: What’s Next), so he probably trademarked that, too.
- Third, while at it, boycott O’Reilly’s expensive conference and attend / organize unconferences instead.
- Fourth, move on to Web 4.0, which I have “prior art” on, so he can’t trademark it. I promise to never make any claims on it
and it really doesn’t matter what we call it.
Related posts:
- O’Reilly Lawyers To Sue Over “Web 2.0″
- Why I will never mention Web 2.0 (nor Where 2.0) anymore on this blog
- Bullying on the Web 2.0 playground…
- O’Reilly Associated with “Web 2.0″ Trademark Scandal
- Mr. Open Source Sues IT@Cork
- O’Reilly lawyers send C&D over ‘Web 2.0′ usage
- Huh? Someone wants my king Evil spot?
- Tim O’Reilly – Come On Down (updated)
- Anatomy of a shitstorm: O’Reilly trademarks Web 2.0
- Tim O’Reilly’s Web 2.0 Heresy
- Proof that Web 2.0 is a marketing phrase
- Web 2.0 = jumped the shark. . .
- CMP and the “Web 2.0″ Trademark Scandal
- This is taking the FOO thing too far
- The O’Reilly Web 2.0 legal blunder – or leave my Irish buddies alone!
- Web 2.0 – sue my sorry ass CMP
- Dear Tim O’Reilly
- … and many-many more…
Update (5/29): Isn’t it fun to watch mainstream media pick up on a subject days after bloggers have already forgotten it? 
Her’s the New York Times, and late or not, they’ve made it to Techmeme.
Tags: web2.0, web3.0, oreilly, o’reilly, trademark, web4.0, unconference, zoliblog
It’s fascinating to me that something as open source as the web would so quickly find its way into the cathedral from the bazaar. Kudos to Mr. O’Reilly for firmly staring at those misleading trees in the beautiful forest.
Take one bullet – apply to brain – observe fallout. This must surely propel Ms Wenge to the top of wankr.com ratings.
Fact – Ireland isn’t the 51st State. Fact – there’s no service mark in existence, only an application. Which, if it is granted will be irrelevant anyway.
Now – let’s see what CMP Media reporting makes of this.
Prediction – Tim bales and starts again, away from the infectious greed that is mainstream media.
Of course, ‘we’ Brotherhood types would never stoop to such skullduggery.