Clawdbot Creator Clarifies Anthropic Didn’t Involve Lawyers
Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral AI agent initially named Clawdbot, recently clarified that Anthropic did not involve lawyers in addressing the trademark issue. Instead, he received an email prompting him to change the name due to Anthropic owning the rights to both the Clawd image and the Claude name. Following this communication, Steinberger renamed his project to Moltbot at their request, although he noted the decision felt imposed.
Background of the Name Change
Steinberger discussed the transition during a podcast episode on TBPN, expressing that the timeline for renaming was challenging. “Everything that could have gone wrong today went wrong,” he remarked. Naming a product that had already gained recognition on social media posed significant hurdles.
Support from Anthropic
Despite the pressure, Steinberger acknowledged that Anthropic’s team was amicable in their approach. “They were really nice. They didn’t send their lawyers. They sent someone internally,” he noted. This tone contributed to a smoother process than it could have been.
Challenges in Renaming
- Steinberger quickly faced issues after renaming when the social media handle for Moltbot was claimed by crypto sellers.
- With help from X staff, he managed to reclaim the handle after approximately 20 minutes of uncertainty.
Future of Moltbot
When discussing the potential for acquisition, Steinberger noted that while venture capitalists were interested, the looming presence of security researchers raised concerns. “This is all vibe-coded,” he explained, suggesting that the potential risks might deter companies from pursuing a buyout.
He expressed a preference for Moltbot’s evolution, stating he would rather see it develop as a foundation or nonprofit rather than a traditional business entity. Steinberger recognized the absolute risks associated with his AI while sharing his preference for programming with OpenAI’s Codex over Claude Code due to its straightforward functionality.
Conclusion
Clawdbot’s evolution into Moltbot speaks to the complexities of branding and intellectual property in the rapidly advancing AI landscape. Steinberger’s journey highlights the careful balance between innovation and compliance within the industry.
