Gaim has become a widely known instant messenger because it is not only cross-platform (meaning it works on multiple operating systems) but it is also cross-network. Using only this application you can connect with friends on AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, Jabber (or Google Talk), and ICQ without needing separate messenger clients for each one.
AOL, however, had a little fit because of the similarities in the name “Gaim” when compared to their already trademarked “AIM”. AOL must have realized that Gaim could become the messenger of choice for users since Gaim has already become pretty popular as a no-cost instant messenger alternative.
AOL and Gaim finally settled on a name change to Pidgin, which will definitely take some getting used to on my part. The good news is that the development team had been holding back releasing a new version of the messenger until all of their legal woes cleared. Now that it has passed they say that 2.0.0 should be available late this week or early next week.
Here is what the team had to say about the situation:
Getting a settlement with AOL has taken FAR FAR longer than we would have ever guessed. On legal advice, we have refrained from any non-beta release during this process as a show of good faith, and to keep AOL from giving up on it. Again, on legal advice, we have also kept this information closely controlled.
At long last, I am pleased to announce that we have a signed settlement and can release our new version. There is one catch however: we have had to change the project’s name.
I’m still a little in shock that this even had to happen, but I guess that is how the legal world works. If someone is jeopardizing the success of your own software (and advertising) then do what you can to remove them from the picture. Maybe I’m wrong about AOL’s reasoning for having to do this, but I think they saw a genuine competitor for their own instant messenger client which makes AOL a lot of money for displaying embedded ads.
The new homepage for the messenger is Pidgin.im, but it still looks like they have some rebranding to go through because most of the site still refers to Gaim and not Pidgin.
Source: Slashdot
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all that for a name? ha?
if memory serves me correctly, AIM (and others 2) were against the option of connecting between IM networks. so now, when they saw they are loosing this battle, they decide to fight for a name?
just imagine what could have happened if the Phoenix browser didn’t change it’s name before it went live with version 1.0….
all the best to GAIM (go ahead and sue me AOL).
Sounds pretty ridiculous that GAIM was forced to change their name. That new 1 sounds pretty lame, too. I’m sticking with Y! mail beta chat and meebo, though. No more desktop IM for me!
It doesn’t matter to me what they call it…they have a great application. Good luck Pidgin!
I am a die-hard Trillian user, but I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. Now Gaim has proper branding instead of a stupid acronym like so many other open-source projects. Also, while Pidgin may not be the most attractive sounding name, it means a simplified dialect spoken between two parties who don’t speak each other’s native language, and that’s what Gaim (excuse me, Pidgin) is all about - simplifying the process for people to use multiple IM services.
As Jack pointed out, this type of thing happens all of the time in the legal and business worlds, so I wouldn’t spend my time obsessing over this.
At first the name sound stupid but after reading the definition of it actually makes sense. Well I knew this would happened it was just a matter of time.
Now, what would be interesting is if they got a new pigeon logo, because, after all, their current logo is just a rip-off of the AOL Man. I think that might be kinda cool.
I do like the definition of Pidgin and it makes a lot of sense, but now they need to incorporate that into a slogan somehow.
I think they should change their logo as well, which might be smart before AOL goes after that too.