In 1989, Autodesk applied to trademark the term "cyberspace" while developing early virtual reality at their Research Lab. Timothy Leary, a friend of author William Gibson, circulated a rumor that Gibson sought to trademark "Eric Gullichsen" in retaliation. Gibson later met Autodesk's representative at Art Futura 1990 in Barcelona, where he quipped that although "the street finds its own use for things," Autodesk was not the street.
After drinks and tapas, the pair visited Gaudi's Park Güell. The article clarifies that Autodesk did register "cyberspace," but Gibson's attempt to trademark Eric Gullichsen was merely a prank by Leary that gained false acceptance as history. The story blends early web culture, tech rivalries, and a serendipitous Barcelona encounter between two digital pioneers.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing