CMP and the “Web 2.0″ Trademark Scandal

I think Arrington is dead on is his suggestion that CMP is the likely instigator behind the Web 2.0 trademark fracas with the IT@Cork event, as reported by Tom Raferty:

[from CrunchNotes: O’Reilly Associated with “Web 2.0″ Trademark Scandal]

My favorite line of the letter: “…the public have come to associate the mark Web 2.0 and the Web 2.0 Conference with CMP and MediaLive.”

I have to say that when I think of web 2.0, CMP is not the first name that pops into my head. O’Reilly and Battelle sure. CMP, no.

Recall that CMP acquired Medialive late last year, so when they say "CMP and Medialive" they mean "CMP, the company that has acquired the trademarks of Medialive, who people may not have even realized was one of the partners behind the Web 2.0 Conference."

We have come to think of the public spokespeople -- Battelle and O'Reilly -- as the only ones in the mix, but CMP is likely the one behind all this. Or the one taking action on behalf of all the partners.

On the CMP side of the equation: the fact that little OT@Cork is being chased -- a lowly, lowly little non-profit -- is not the issue. If someone else -- a big fat competitor -- subsequently were to attempt to use the term Web 2.0 for a conference, it would be bad for CMP's case in defending the copyright if events like the IT@Cork one had been allowed to use the term unchallenged. So, we shouldn't think of them as a bunch of meenies. They are doing what is necessary to retain the use of the trademark, so that the term doesn't become public domain. Just like the Xerox and Kleenex people.

But the whole thing looks bad, and it's hard to imagine how they are going to save face, no matter what the outcome, at this point.

tags: john+battelle, tim+oreilly, web+2.0+conference, trademark, michael+arrington, tom+raferty

Comments

[Liam @ Web 2.5 Blog]

It wasn't Crunchnotes that first suggested that... Mike revised his post when I pointed out where the letter really came from. See my blog for more on this story.

[alan herrell - the head lemur]

Here is a tip for Tim O'Reilly:
Pull back the covers, get out of the bed, put the money on the dresser, and get the hell out of the motel room.

http://theheadlemur.typepad.com/ravinglunacy/2006/05/web_20_and_stan.html