EPISODE: Clawdbot, MoltBot, OpenClaw… Wait, What?
This week, Kandis and I break down a bizarre naming situation happening in the AI world — and what it reveals about trademarks.
In just a few weeks, one AI tool went from Clawdbot to MoltBot to OpenClaw after legal pressure.
At the same time, another platform called MoltBook went viral — with similar branding and even a lobster-style logo.
We spent 10 minutes trying to figure out which company was which.
That's exactly the problem trademarks are meant to solve.
Kandis and I talk through:
-
Why changing one letter (Claude vs Clawdbot) doesn't protect you
-
How "creative spelling" still creates legal risk
-
Why logos matter just as much as names
-
The hidden danger of generic Canva branding
-
When to trademark your name vs your logo
-
Why big brands rebrand — even when they should know better
We also unpack a common assumption: If a big company picked the name, it must be safe.
Not true.
Big takeaway: Trademarks exist to prevent confusion.
If people can't clearly tell you apart from someone else, you don't just have a branding issue — you may have a legal one.
Protect your name before you grow. Not after you're forced to change it.