I am probably biting the hand that feeds me by making my first post one of skeptic vitriol towards the very site that was so generous to grant me this account under a semi-offensive name for those in the know, but I would be remiss of my self-deprecating title if I failed to post something that borders on getting banned. Why not get that shit out of the way, am I right?
Now, I know a lot of you Steemers (is that what you are?) are tossing your shmeckles in to crypto-coins left and right and know a thing or two about that world. Let's take Ant Shares as the prime example and build from there. They recently changed their name to NEO and it was in part (so I have heard) to differentiate themselves from Ant Financial.
So can we expect something similar from Steemit? The Internet already associates the sound of their name with Valve's gaming services. Aren't the owners of this site afraid of a cease and desist or do they have some private confidence or unpublicized bond between Valve we don't know about? Do they believe Gabe just doesn't give a shit?
Now, it might end well if they stand up for their trademark. It IS spelled different and has an IT on the end. But it also almost evokes copying Reddit's formula too. Double trouble. But it has a real chance to survive even if such a suit were filed or both. Exibit A! http://www.deseretnews.com/article/686136/Greatest-Snow-on-Earth-survives-lawsuit-by-circus.html Ringling Brothers failed to defend a slogan that was clearly a rip-off of theirs and had only 1 letter difference to its defense. A close shave indeed.
But now imagine a 1.5 billion USD titan against a company with basically a treasury of its own devising. How would Steemit fair? Who would rise to their defense? Does the company have a war chest in the ready? I sincerely hope they do~!
But what of a new name if it SHOULD by last resort come to pass? What would it be? What organic sproutings from this community might emerge in a hypothetical rebranding?
I'd like to hear all of your thoughts on this and I wish steemit all the best! Its a fantastic concept and I am honored to be a part in this emerging content for currency experiment. Smeg out.