May It Please the Mozzers,
I haven't written on the blog in months, but I simply couldn't let today pass by without acknowledging the courage and perserverance shown by Rhea Drysdale in her pursuit of justice. She's my hero and I want to be just like her--A woman of action and humble fortitude.
Rhea announced victory against Jason Gambert in a trademark dispute lasting more than two years. She fought to prevent "SEO" from becoming trademarked for one mysterious man's private use. She fought on behalf of all of us who work in the SEO industry. Like many of you, I feel sad and ashamed I couldn't do more to support Rhea--but we've had other legal trouble to sort out at SEOmoz that consumes our limited legal resources. :(
Lawsuits are expensive, stressful, and very time consuming. There is nothing glamorous or certain about them. Even when you're in the right, you have to keep worrying about whether justice will prevail, and whether you'll be broke or demoralized before it finally does.
I'm feeling really jazzed and happy today because Rhea has bolstered my belief in people, the SEO industry, and the justice system. As Joanna Lord said earlier, "Its a good industry-day folks, good industry day :)" It just feels warm-and-fuzzy to work in a community of people like Rhea who sacrifice a lot without hope of any financial gain. And of people like Aaron Wall, Michael VanDeMar, Barry Schwartz and many others who've publically supported and recognized Rhea for her efforts both today and in the past.
I just wanted everyone out there in blogland to know that we have a big crush on Rhea and a big crush on the SEO industry. It's so great to see everyone coming together to support Rhea and recognize what she's done for all of us.
You can show your support by helping Rhea recoup some of her legal fees. She's updating her blog with the best way to donate to her (without inadvertently giving her some tax grief!) on the OutSpokenMedia blog.
Group Hug!
Sarah Bird
Chief Operations officer and Erstwhile Legal Blogger
SEOmoz, Inc.
Thank You Sarah for bringing this to our attention.
I too would like to be more like Rhea.
I will also dip into my funds to give back to her.
But right now I have to go clean up after one of my dogs. They must have gotten into something because they did a "Gambert" and if I don't clean it up well, we all know how that would smell. ;)
I concur. I, too, would like to be Rhea Drysdale. :)
Truthfully, a lot of us are feeling jazzed and happy and it's been great to watch. It's important to know that sometimes when you fight for the things that are important to you, they pay off. Even if the "pay off" comes in the form of a $17k legal bill. It's been incredible to see how much support bled through the industry throughout the day and to have something that united our community in a really big way. It made Monday a lot more tolerable.
Thanks to you and to SEOmoz for originally bringing this to everyone's attention two years ago. Otherwise, it may have slipped through the cracks and who knows where we'd all be today.
Group hugs,
I'd like to say something really poignant, but Lisa summed it up! Thank you Sarah for the discovery and SEOmoz for the support. :)
One more huge "thank you" to Sarah for discovery, for Rhea's tenacity and selflessness, and to the others who set themselves on the front line for all of SEO.
Thumbs up to each of you. As Lisa said, it's incredible to see such support and unity in the community!!
...
And, dear Jason Gambert, we remember your many aliases on SEOmoz 2 years ago. We wear our thumbs down proudly!
Thank you again, from all of us!
I hope what the community did today will be remembered by our industry in the future.
"Lawsuits are expensive, stressful, and very time consuming. There is nothing glamorous or certain about them. Even when you're in the right, you have to keep worrying about whether justice will prevail, and whether you'll be broke or demoralized before it finally does."
Truth.
Lawsuits are hideous (working at a newspaper we're well acquainted with them).
Sarah,
I remember reading your coverage of this issue when I was starting off in the SEO biz. Even at that point, I could not believe the audacity of Gambert. Thanks you for digging this up when you did, you guys contributed to a winning battle for everyone in the industry and Rhea deserves all the kudos in the world for following it through to the end.
Here's the Sphinn submission of her article, if anyone is interested.
She does sound like a hero...
She does seem like a hero. I personally admit that it's the first time i heard this story with your article Sarah. But seems she achieved something that means a ton to us who are in the SEO business. It's a really inspiring story and thanks for sharing this. I'd love to donate :)
Yeah, this was simply awesome. Rhea, thank you, you are a hero to the industry.
I remain stunned by the US PTO...
I can't think of anything to add to this discussion, other than a Thank You Rhea, and a donation that was sent to her PayPal account. The donation info was found on Brent Payne's blog.
Well done Rhea - without you we'd (as SEO's) be in a different place today.
Just a note - in the UK, there are only 2 companies that hold a trademark using the acronym "SEO" in their names. Yes, you read that right. 2.
I'm one of them, (SEOgadget) which means I'll be notified if anyone tries to register any similar names (in case there's a conflict).
The whole situation worries me over here. As much attention as the US case got, the UK are sat happily in the dark blissfully unaware that this could happen here too. What's most scary is that, while only two TM owners in the UK would be notified if an attempt was made to register SEO as a trademark, there's a risk that it could get through with far less (if any) opposition.
If that happens (and I disagree with it) maybe I'll give you a call to find out what to do :-)
Thanks once again
One of my favourite things about this industry has always been the community. It really does make you feel warm and fuzzy to see everyone put their differences aside and come together for a day.
Huge thanks to Rhea for standing up for us and the work we love, and SEOmoz, ArteWorks, Jonathan Hochman and everyone else for their part in it. We owe you guys a lot.
I concur.
Rhrea, I take my hat off to you, thank you!
It feels somewhat meaningless to even comment. Seriously...nothing can do justice to this act.
Like many, I entered this industry on my own. I expanded into this area of "service offering" because it met with my own desires and recognition of value. But only after I educated myself enough to where I felt I had something to offer.
And I did so in anyway I could. Just like learning HTML/CSS, web-standards design...it was not the easiest nor shortest path available -- but it was the only acceptable one -- through constant reading and my own experience. And among others, I owe Rand and SEOmoz tremendous gratitude for assisting in that process.
And I'm doubly thankful because it not only helped my grow my own business, but without a doubt, helped me join one of the leading SEO firms in the industry.
I've had the great pleasure of meeting some of the biggest names within the industry. However, I haven't nor do I get a chance to make it to many industry events. I don't even know Rhea, nor a fraction of those within the industry that perhaps so many others know.
But that aside, I am proud to be a part of the SEO community. A community that continues to astonish and amaze as it goes out of its way to help and welcome others. We often spend way too much time defending or redeeming our industry in the eyes of those we serve. Unfortunately, we often have to do the same with those in related industries. At least it is nice to know that, when it really matters, we can put aside our competitive differences and come together to defend the industry that we hold dear and true...perhaps that more than anything demonstrates the true validity of SEO.
I gave, will you too? No matter the amount, please show your support... Give back to Rhea for SEO.
Win or Lose, it's what's Right we Choose!
That's a great story of perserverance and commitment for selfless reasons to something that's for the greater good. She definitely deserves a lot of kudos and hopefully some financial help.
what a nice blog i hope u like it
I can't add anything else useful other than what's been said...So THANK YOU!
Definetly worth sending a donation to. Thanks Rhea!
I don't think I could have fought to the end like she did. Just goes to show you the power of a ticked-off woman! LOL
A lot of people didnt even know this was going on, myself included, which is quite shameful because it really does affect us all in the SEO community.
A big up to Rhea for doing what she did and standing up for all our rights. Really an award should be made out to you for what you did!
Well done for kicking ass!!
Rhea. You're a little crazy (in the nicest possible way). Some of that crazy US money winging its way to you through the intertubes now.
One thumb up for Rhea... Glad we can still use the term SEO without being sued for copyright infringement!
In french we use a different, more generic term to describe SEO; "Référencement"... Hopefully, one can't register a generic word as a trademark! Seems it's always special for americans (And I'm not saying this in a wrong way!) :)
Well said.
I've felt the same way since yesterday.
I love working in this industry!
It's hard to imagine another industry where this type of thing would happen. Rhea fought the good fight not for personal gain or financial reward, but becuase she's awesome.
Hooray for honesty, integrity, and victory!
Kudos to Rhea. And to Sarah and all those that publicly recognized her.
Rhea Drysdale is definitely the hero of SEO industry, there are just too many "smart" people trying to game the system.
Just curious, if Mr.Gambert successfully trademarked "SEO", what's gonna happen? Does it mean he has the ability to regulate the whole industry? Or we have to pay him if we want to provide SEO service?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I guess the "only" effect (still critical and expensive; Think about it - keyword-rich domain names such as seomoz.org, company names, blogs content, etc.), would have been to change the term being used; SEO.
Trademark was for the term SEO - Not for the SEO process in itself... It's like if someone would try to trademark the action of developing a website, for example, which is a nonsense...
I got this from the Rhea's blog which Sarah linked to and its a quote from the Gambert guy
“My goal in owning the trademark for the word SEO is not to try to force people to change their SEO process, but rather, prevent companies from selling “SEO” as a service under false pretenses.
…We will also be forming a board of directors to oversee changes to the process, and format in which SEO can be sold (basically the BBB for the SEO industry). 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. Those approved will use SEO as normal, but will now be able to use the term as SEO™, and will be able to claim that their SEO service is approved under SEO trademark guidelines.
This power is for the people of the Search community and the protection of the general business consumer“
So in the long run he wanted to be in charge of the overall SEO process, almost like W3C org... at least thats the gist I got.
Thanks for clarifying...! It's even worse than what I tought...
I should have read the post on Rhea's blog....
Gambert is full of hot air!
"This power is for the people of the Search community" Pfff... It's really bull....
Amazing! how blatant and shameless people can get.
He clearly mentions he is going to control all selling of "SEO Services" .
And to think that the courts needed 2 years to throw this bs out! Aah, well at least they did! I am thankful for that.
Edited:
At least his lawyer made some money out of a dimwit. There is your silver lining for you.
Deep Janardhanan
--- Deleted link - Jen
What Rhea did is great. She really stood up for all of us in the SEO industry.
I find it almost a joke that this guy tried to "coin" the term "SEO". And I find it pretty ridiculous that Rhea, or anybody at that, had to file a lawsuit against this guy. The guy should not have had a chance to trademark "SEO".
But I am very happy and grateful for what Rhea did! Hats off to her!
--Jen removed link