William Gibson and the trademarking of cyberspace

The term 'cyberspace' remains free for all to use and is not subject to trademark by any single entity.

William Gibson's objection to Autodesk's trademark application for "cyberspace" in 1989 is detailed, stemming from the author's concern over the commercialization of a term he popularized in his 1984 novel "Neuromancer." Eric Gullichsen, then working at Autodesk's virtual reality lab, wrote to Gibson, acknowledging the term's street-level usage but ultimately proceeding with the trademark application. Timothy Leary, a friend of Gullichsen and a fan of Gibson, then circulated a rumor that Gibson had retaliated by attempting to trademark Gullichsen's name. This rumor was subsequently amplified by others, including John Barlow and Rudy Rucker, becoming a persistent anecdote in tech circles. Gullichsen later met Gibson at the Art Futura 1990 festival in Barcelona, where Gibson remarked that "Autodesk is not the street," indicating his continued disapproval of the trademark attempt, though the matter appeared to be largely resolved between them.

The story highlights the tension between the creative popularization of a concept and its subsequent commercial appropriation, particularly in nascent technology fields. Gibson's objection, though ultimately unsuccessful in preventing Autodesk's filing, underscores a desire by early digital culture figures to maintain a certain purity or uncommercialized spirit around emerging concepts.

This narrative serves as a historical footnote on the early attempts to commodify language and ideas associated with the internet and virtual reality, revealing how rumor and embellishment can shape perceived technological history. The persistence of the "trademark Eric Gullichsen" story, despite its origin as a prank, illustrates the enduring influence of anecdotal lore within the tech community.