Subreddit Drama | Patently-O

Reddit: Anybody can begin a subreddit, and again in 2012 Jaime Rogozinski began r/WallStreetBets. Through the years, the location attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers speaking about aggressive buying and selling methods; offering middle-school humor; and pumping-up varied shares (e.g., GameStop).

In 2020, Reddit eliminated Rogozinski from his function controlling the subreddit as moderator, concluding that he was “trying to monetize a neighborhood.” Rogozinski had printed a guide titled WallStreetBets and likewise filed trademark registration software for the mark WALLSTREETBETS, with him because the proprietor. In fact, a number of of us are monetizing their subreddits, however I’ve not heard of others registering a TM on the subreddit identify.  Instantly after eradicating Rogozinski from management, Reddit filed competing registration purposes for a similar mark and continues to manage the subreddit. Opposition proceedings at the moment are pending earlier than the TTAB.

Reddit claims management and possession as a result of the subreddit is on its web site and beneath its management; Rogozinsky argues that he did all of the work constructing the model for himself – not for Reddit. The problems on this case are attention-grabbing as a result of they’re much like these being debated with regard to AI possession and attribution. Right here, the distinction is that we’ve a company proprietor moderately than an AI. And, though each the corporate and Rogozinsky had enter within the creation — what actually made this beneficial is the enter and connection to hundreds of thousands of customers. Equally, AI works nicely provided that it has good enter knowledge — sometimes obtained by scooping up and examined up so many copyrighted works and consumer knowledge.

Along with the opposition proceedings, Rogozinski has now sued Reddit in Federal Court docket, asserting infringement of his unregistered WallStreetBets mark; infringement of his registered mark WSB; in addition to violations of contract, rights of publicity, and responsibility of excellent religion and honest dealing. James R. Lawrence, III is representing the plaintiff.

Must be attention-grabbing.