SEO, Yeah I Own It
You may not be aware that anyone doing business in SEO, specifically selling search engine optimization services, was until very recently under threat from one Jason Gambert, who was attempting to trademark the term “SEO”. Yeah, no kidding.
Had his trademark application been approved by USPTO, his aim was to have SEOs be legally obliged to comply with the decrees of a “board of directors”, set up by ah, him, in a no-doubt-altruistic effort to bring some order to all this SEO chaos. Lay down some guidelines and whip these crazy SEOs into shape, and maybe charge them $199 for a certification. In Gambert’s words:
We will restrict businesses from selling the process of SEO as an “SEO” service if they do not meet the process approved by the SEO trademark requirements.
The reason this did not happen was because one person, Rhea Drysdale, then a 25-year-old with a contract job at a startup, took it upon herself to fight this in April, 2008. Nearly two years and $17,004.33 (of her money) later, the USPTO terminated the trademark application.
It’s not that guidelines and maybe even some sort of professional licensing or other form of sanctioning by a professional body isn’t a good idea, but to attempt it by trademarking the term SEO leaves one’s motives a little suspect, IMO!
Fascinating read, not too long so you can get back to scaling those SERPS!
She did a very good thing. I imagine he would have had difficulty in enforcing the mark even if registered, however. There are several defenses others could have used to stop him from enforcing the “rights” had he indeed received the registration.