It’s been interesting to watch the launch of OSM (Open Source Media), formally Pajamas Media, this past week. As with the launch of any new blogging network (of sorts) there is always a mix of critique, hype, spin and debate. One of the debates that I’m seeing more and more in the threads that I watch is that over the name – Open Source Media.
There is a debate over use of the term between the Pajama Media OSM and another one – a radio show. Check out the Radio OSM’s posts at Open Source Media: In Case You’re Confused, The Name Problem, Part II and The Name Problem Part III.
The PJ OSM responded with OSM – About our Name.
Plenty of others have waded into the debate of course (the PJ OSM have some pretty major league bloggers – so it’s a high profile project). You can look at some of the critiques of the name problem at Buzz Machine, Private Radio and Anit-Idiotarian Rottweiller.
So it seems things could be escalating into ‘fiasco land’. I have to say I was surprised by them not choosing a name that they could get a .com domain for. It is of course challenging to get one these days for something that makes sense but perhaps in hindsight it would have been better.
Hopefully they can sort it out and get back to promoting their business plan rather than getting sidetracked distracting aspects like this. In the mean time – it’s a lesson for all of us in choosing names wisely.
update: I think this post by Jeff Jarvis is spot on the money – it contains advice that I think OSM should take action on. Nice work Jeff.
