Its the perfect time if were going to. We had planned for matketing around launch.
I dont think it necessary but i do think it can help so im for it.
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I’ve been around for about 10 years, and being in software development and marketing I’ve been thinking maid could’ve use a rebranding about 5 years ago. but without releasing anything major it would be a waste of time. a rebranding when you’re about to release something major and prove it’s something major you’ll get catapulted to great highs. if you rebrand with out releasing anything you lose credibility if you release without rebranding you lose the possibility of anyone else giving a f**** about what you released and what it does (even if its life changing), not to mention it brings in money, development, user engagement.
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I am sorry to have to write this, but I think it is necessary.
Rebranding at this stage I think is a big mistake, there have been a lot of changes recently - team CEO, Discord, roadmap, white paper, plans for the near future, but nothing in particular has changed in terms of access to the technology we need most - that is, a reliable, efficient network.
I read somewhere that Primer should be released, which is the most important thing for me (and I think for most of the community), because I’ve been following what’s going on in the project for years, and so far I don’t know how the secure network is supposed to work, what’s more, I notice that even team members are still asking questions about it.
Unfortunately, Primera is not there yet, for that there is a lot of hype… There are a lot of people who have “dusted off” their tokens, some crypto speculators (with all due respect to all users), some interested in the technology, asking questions in the forum because it is difficult to find specific information in the growing number of threads - is this really what we need now?
Here are a few things that IMHO are quite inconsistent:
-
we say that we are creating a “new Internet”, which to me means that the name “Safenet” is a higher form than the existing network name, just as the autonomous network is a higher technology than the Internet protocol, but we want to hastily change the name, which is obvious,
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what is the legacy of SN, i.e. its eighteen-year history of creation - which is even unbelievable in this day and age, but still true - we want to erase from memory, so to speak, and follow in the footsteps of mediocre mainstream projects by rebranding, while the so-called “history” (besides the technology itself) is the most valuable asset of this project,
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I don’t know if the management knows that in today’s world no name of large projects is accidental and is a very carefully developed brand based on numerological value. And no one in the world does it differently, and the same goes for logos - there is no coincidence in these matters - although the versions for the masses obviously have a crafted so-called “legend”,
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already arrived topics, threads, posts in the forum, which take time, but do not necessarily contribute anything of value to the work on the project - I myself do not keep up reading and do not know what is really relevant and what is not - do we really need even more new users, as I mentioned above?
I think Safe is like water in the desert in hot weather, when it turns out to be fully usable, everyone will want it and line up for it. Then maybe the time will come to verify the network branding or the token, but not before.
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Primer author here! The Primer is there (bar a few final updates) but it’s waiting for a new home. The current site isn’t really workable any more so it will be published where it’s easier to maintain and edit, presumably on the new site. The team are coordinating the order of releases here. Parts of the Primer have also found their way into the new white paper, so it’s just a case of first things first.
31 Likes
I’m also in the camp of “A good product does not need marketing”. However I also think that part of the roadmap is increased community involvement (e.g. more external developers) before the product is fully fleshed out so a a refined brand might not hurt in this context to create awareness.
In other words, I think (hope) the main technical hurdles are cleared by now but to flesh out all details in the outlined timeframe they need more external ressources and want to create momentum in order to attract these resources.
Also: A cleanup in existing Maidsafe/SAFE online resources IS necessary … e.g.: Safe Network
Home - Documentation
https://forum.safedev.org/
https://hub.safedev.org/
all full of outdated information which is confusing.
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I agree, but I have not noticed my own arrival of these programmers or developers, instead there has been a lot of hype. And you don’t need a rebranding for that, so I’m not convinced it’s needed now (if it’s needed at all), names are changed in applications, company names, etc, not in generic terms, which are a timeless value.
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The problem with The Safe Network is when you search for it there are many posts and videos about a safe network, totally unrelated to this project. A unique name like Ethereum is very important IMO.
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I understand your concerns, but from where I stand, I actually think it’s a strategic move for the company.
There may be some who view The Safe Network’s progress with disappointment due to the time it has taken. However, this rebrand offers the team an opportunity to shed any negative associations and emerge with a revitalised image. It aims to attract greater support, even from previously skeptical individuals.
And let’s think about Bux’s position. For her to really take charge and drive this forward, she needs to feel a sense of ownership over the project. A rebrand gives her the opportunity to lead without any lingering doubts or baggage from the past. Plus, it helps her cut through any unwarranted negativity.
Sure, there is a proud history with Maidsafe and The Safe Network, a great team with a lot of integrity, and that’s something worth acknowledging / celebrating. But we also need to move with the times. Rebranding isn’t about erasing their past; it’s about preparing for the future and staying relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.
I for one am getting behind this rebranding decision and I hope for a simple, fundamental, symbolic, and memorable identity for the network – ideally encapsulated in a single word.
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Of course I respect your opinion, but I cannot agree with it.
And that’s the thing, we’re looking at the same coin, but you see heads and I see tails. Those who were disappointed with the time it took to create SafeNet are a small community, and this is about attracting a crowd of developers and users, and rebranding won’t fix that.
When I talk to someone about the project and say that it has been 18 years in the making, that it will be the new Internet and the world’s first autonomous network, people open their mouths and make $5 eyes, it’s got to be awe-inspiring. If those who are impatient need to be rebranded, then we have nothing for them… Because they don’t understand what they’ve invested in. However, I hope they will appreciate what is about to happen without a name or logo change, and be proud that they were visionaries.
I understand that this is part of the adopted strategy, but I don’t see any contradiction with Bux’s vocation, she looks good from her eyes (because she has beautiful ones 
) and I think she will be a great face of the project and a good CEO, without the need for radical changes in SafeNet’s image, here a little touch-up and sales skills are enough, and the project itself will attract specialists, investors and users.
It is the remarkable history of Safe’s creation and its somewhat conservative, but ingeniously simple branding, which, regardless of the legal situation of the Safe Network name, should retain its core - that is the greatest value according to the principle:
“The very best things in life are born of difficulty. Whatever comes too easily is easily abandoned.”
I think, our inspiration should not be Tesla but Toyota/Lexus…
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How can we judge before seeing what the rebrand is?
There is a non-zero chance that you may be completely bowled over and think it is the best decision the team ever made. Of course it may be the opposite too, but only once we see what’s up can a reasonable opinion be made.
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Of course I fully agree, and I am not ruling anything out, but I think that a rebranding is not necessary at this time.
My opinion is about the idea of moving away from the SafeNet / Safe Network name in general, in some strategic way.
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No, I’m not worried. I’m curious. For so long, most of the community and the team seemed keen on keeping the brand untouched. Now I wanna see what the main idea behind rebranding is.
What I’m worried about is the roadmap won’t be fulfilled.
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It is just one day before release of Whitepaper.
So we might have one more day with some exiting event. The opposite way would not make sense.
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I’ll be honest about my opinion but the network is too important to not support it and I’m not going to stand in their way getting it out. Personally, I think the trio probably came up with something that is timeless and brilliant. Just a guess based off past performances.
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While I agree that a rebrand is a worthwhile move at this point in the project due to a number of things we cannot know how good it will be until the dust settles and the project has progressed for a few months further on. Cannot see how the effectiveness of the rebrand is until it has had time to be exposed to the real world. Assuming of course it wasn’t a crap one to start with.
Most companies refresh their look every so often anyhow. For me while the rebrand seemed necessary due to things outside of its control, it is now the wait and see how it goes down the track.
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I always feel like Radix and Maidsafe share a lot or parallels, in that it has been a labour for the founders amongst other factors. The very fact that their respective founders have persevered for so long is a positive signal.
Radix followed a similar arc a few years ago - rebranding from eMunie to Radix and also installing a new CEO. I personally feel like the rebrand was largely positive, allowing the project to transition into a slicker (and less R&D oriented) project that coincided with the last bull run.
Whilst I am also quite attached to the SAFE branding, many of the new users who will join the project will not have the same attachment. All in all the rebranding should be a net positive if executed well. The previous 18 years of history is still woven into the fabric of the network and will not be lost regardless of whether the name changes or not.
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I suspect that a rebrand was in the works for a long while now - ever since it was realized others were using the ‘safe’ name in crypto. They just didn’t want to talk about it as someone might take that name too, before they were ready to launch.
So IMO, this is all part of their strategy here.
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They wouldn’t rebrand, if the rebrand wasn’t closer to what they are building (after all the entropy), widely recognized (initial impressions being positive), meets their objectives, mission statement, and internalized in a good way to tons of consumers, individuals, and businesses…
Fingers crossed, the marketing team pulled the trigger and for the right reasons… to be at a better place than current 
.
I am too interested on their tech delivery and feature set, but yes branding plays a critical role too (with non-techies and techies too) .
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I decided to try internet searches with things like
Safe brand
Safe company name
etc etc.
The aim was to try and gauge for myself the extent of recognition that a small computer network would get amongst the real world. I chose judging it this way because it isn’t the crypto world we want to attract but the whole world.
It is disappointing to see the massive number of companies, products, and so on that use “Safe” as either part of their branding or promotion to actually have it as part of the company name.
I am now absolutely convinced that the Safe naming will not be able to succeed for many years and to be quicker would require a multi billion dollar company to promote it (that would lose it its independence).
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First time poster here. My english is bad, so bear with me.
As a long time supporter of this project, it feels to me like a rebrand would take away what I grew to love about this project and turning it into something entirely different. It’s hard for me to explain it, but it makes me feel sad.
It’s a way to say goodbye to the old supporters, as it tries to find new supporters who don’t have a full understanding of the history behind it.
I don’t want this project to blow up and get big yet. I want it to stay small for now. I want it to keep the passion it currently has. I don’t want it to be corporate.
It’s not ready for that yet. It needs to mature a bit first. It hasn’t even taken a breath. It’s still in the womb.
Not sure if that makes sense, but even after 18 years, i feel we can wait a bit longer to make sure it has a proper maidsafe / SAFE Network release.
Making these drastic changes to the flow right before release is a bit unsettling, and it’s creating a lot of uncertainty around which users this project is actually targeting. It doesn’t feel like this release is for the supporters who have championed maidsafe entirely through its development.
Thanks for reading.
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