William Gibson and the trademarking of cyberspace

William Gibson, the science fiction author who coined the term 'cyberspace' in his 1984 novel 'Neuromancer', has trademarked the term 'cyberspace' in the United States. Gibson's trademark application was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 12, 2022. The trademark covers a wide range of products and services, including 'fictional stories, articles, and other written works' and 'entertainment services, namely, providing online non-downloadable fiction and non-fiction stories and articles'. Gibson's trademark application was initially filed in 2015, but it was not approved until 2022. Gibson's trademarking of 'cyberspace' has been met with criticism from some in the tech community, who argue that the term is too generic and has become a widely accepted concept in the tech industry. Gibson has stated that he is not trying to prevent others from using the term, but rather to protect his own intellectual property rights.