RedFin Goes For the Potter 2006 Award in Going After Blogger over Real Estate 2.0
The internet company redfin which I have stood up for has really gotten under my skin. They have gone after a blogger who used the term Real Estate 2.0 in the name of his blog. The designation 2.0 typically references the next stage of technology in a generic format. But the Director of Marketing, Eric Heller, has now associated himself with the bullying act of telling this blogger that they can not use the name.
Because redfin has trademarked the name. Thats right, the trademark office of bureaucratic mindless automatons gave redfin the trademark real estate 2.0. And now to make it more interesting ol’ redfin is enforcing the trademark real estate 2.0 and forcing the guy to change the name of the blog.
Fortunately, this brave and intelligent blogger has changed the name to real estate 2.x and that should keep the wolves at bay, but from now on in my books, redfin has slipped a bunch of notches and will not get the benefit of the doubt.
I love young and hungry companies, but to first take out a trademark as broad asreal estate 2.0, then enforce it so quickly on a guy really sucks. Now redfin is acting like a bully to the very people who are going to make a huge difference whether they succeed or not.
Can you imagine all of the real estate bloggers taking aim at the company. As it has been shown in other industries, it is not the wisest move.
Other Real Estate Bloggers commenting on the Real Estate 2.0 issue.
Update -Â Sellsius did a little digging and found out that Redfin does not yet have the trademark for Real Estate 2.0 . They just have applied for it. My faith in the federal government just grew a micron. Thanks for the tip Delilah!
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Pingback by RedFinesse? None in evidence. RedFaces? None to be seen. RedFiasco? None so deserving . . . | BloodhoundBlog | The weblog of BloodhoundRealty.com in Phoenix, Arizona on 19 September 2006:
[...] There seems to be more egg available than faces to wear it. [...]
Comment by Delilah Boyd on 20 September 2006:
Looks like RedFin was lying:
http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/?p=2100
Comment by Todd Hodgen on 23 September 2006:
It will be difficult for Redfin to win that trademark if it is in fact already being used by others in the real estate industry. The agent with the Patent and Trade Office would be hard pressed not to see this obvious issue.