Virtual WordPress

[davecoveney]

Funny old thing, business... you can make money in so many different ways, and what looks like bad value to one is good value to another.

I mean, I look at what some people spend on ringtones. To me it was never a viable business, yet so many spent surprising amounts of money on it. Ultimately, some people don't value the money they've earned (or their time) nearly as highly as they should, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to charge for something they're willing to pay for, I suppose....

[JohnM]

Shut up. KILL IT !!
http://bitwiremedia.com/wordcast/58/

Funny old thing, business... you can make money in so many different ways, and what looks like bad value to one is good value to another.

Thats why I`m getting most of my gmails from Nigeria....

[chipbennett]

Funny old thing, business... you can make money in so many different ways, and what looks like bad value to one is good value to another.

I mean, I look at what some people spend on ringtones. To me it was never a viable business, yet so many spent surprising amounts of money on it. Ultimately, some people don't value the money they've earned (or their time) nearly as highly as they should, but that doesn't mean it's wrong to charge for something they're willing to pay for, I suppose....

Is there anything wrong, in a legal sense, with what they're doing? No. Not yet, anyway. (I'll reserve judgement, pending an actual speaker/topic list and agenda.)

That said, it still has the very real (and, I daresay, very likely) possibility of reflecting negatively on the bona fide WordCamp events taking place around the world.

[Jeffro]

Well, without going into detail regarding this thread, decided to put my thoughts in a blog post instead: http://www.wptavern.com/my-thoughts-...rtual-wordcamp

[Jane]

For it to be a WordCamp, it needs to be in person, period, as far as I'm concerned. WordCamps are about building a local community of face-to-face interaction, not about creating yet another virtual meetup. We have IRC, forums like this one, wordpress.tv, various blogs, lists, etc for virtual interaction. If someone wants to put together a virtual conference they should not use the WordCamp name.

[chipbennett]

For it to be a WordCamp, it needs to be in person, period, as far as I'm concerned. WordCamps are about building a local community of face-to-face interaction, not about creating yet another virtual meetup. We have IRC, forums like this one, wordpress.tv, various blogs, lists, etc for virtual interaction. If someone wants to put together a virtual conference they should not use the WordCamp name.

Howdy, Jane!

Is there any chance that Automattic (or another WordPress-related entity) can trademark "WordCamp"? They would certainly have prior use, and should meet the general requirements for a trademark.

If so, would there be any interest in doing so?

[JohnM]

WordCamp is probably already a TM, while Virtual WordCamp is a claimed TM by the coffe-magazine-ad-seller Gina Bell.

Wikipedia:

Proprietary rights in relation to a trademark may be established through actual use in the marketplace, or through registration of the mark with the trademarks office (or "trademarks registry") of a particular jurisdiction. In many jurisdictions, trademark rights can be established through either or both means. Certain jurisdictions generally do not recognize trademarks rights arising through use. However, unregistered trademarks may still be protected by copyright laws in China and the European Union. In the United States the only way to qualify for a federally registered trademark is to first use the trademark in commerce.

WordPress community should claim the TM and © for WordCamp but who should actually do it ? May Automattic own a community symbol ?

[chipbennett]

WordCamp is probably already a TM, while Virtual WordCamp is a claimed TM by the coffe-magazine-ad-seller Gina Bell.



WordPress community should claim the TM and © for WordCamp but who should actually do it ? May Automattic own a community symbol ?

Then if WordCamp is already a trademark, then whomever claims ownership can challenge Gina's right to use (much less to claim trademark for) "Virtual WordCamp".

[Jeffro]

My source was right, VirtualWordcamp has been taken offline and been replaced by Virtual WordWeek - http://virtualwordweek.com/ thats the end of this story. Not :D

[chipbennett]

My source was right, VirtualWordcamp has been taken offline and been replaced by Virtual WordWeek - http://virtualwordweek.com/ thats the end of this story. Not :D

Well, it looks like my major points-of-concern have been addressed:

1) No longer using the "WordCamp" name
2) The event is free (though, as the event is positioned now, even that is not so important)
3) Identified speakers, topics, and target audience

This event is clearly targeted at an audience *other than* the usual WordCamp demographic, and is no longer appearing to generate any confusion with respect to actual WordCamp events; as such, it's outside our area of concern, and so I'm perfectly happy moving on at this point.

In other words, Gina is no longer appearing to try to move into/take advantage of the "WordPress" demographic, so I see no need to interfere with her event targeted at a more general business demographic.

Of course, remain ever-vigilant.