diff --git a/storyboard/api/v1/projects.py b/storyboard/api/v1/projects.py
index f267c800..e608f828 100644
--- a/storyboard/api/v1/projects.py
+++ b/storyboard/api/v1/projects.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import wsmeext.pecan as wsme_pecan
 
 from storyboard.api.auth import authorization_checks as checks
 from storyboard.api.v1 import base
-from storyboard.common import custom_types
 from storyboard.db.api import projects as projects_api
 
 CONF = cfg.CONF
@@ -36,9 +35,9 @@ class Project(base.APIBase):
     Storyboard as Projects, among others.
     """
 
-    name = custom_types.Name()
-    """At least three letters or digits. Also brackets, underscore, and
-    whitespaces are allowed.
+    name = wtypes.text
+    """At least one lowercase letter or number, followed by letters, numbers,
+    dots, hyphens or pluses. Keep this name short; it is used in URLs.
     """
 
     description = wtypes.text
diff --git a/storyboard/api/v1/stories.py b/storyboard/api/v1/stories.py
index b193ee73..9476d7b3 100644
--- a/storyboard/api/v1/stories.py
+++ b/storyboard/api/v1/stories.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ from storyboard.api.auth import authorization_checks as checks
 from storyboard.api.v1 import base
 from storyboard.api.v1.timeline import CommentsController
 from storyboard.api.v1.timeline import TimeLineEventsController
-from storyboard.common import custom_types
 from storyboard.db.api import stories as stories_api
 from storyboard.db.api import timeline_events as events_api
 
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ class Story(base.APIBase):
     Project and branch.
     """
 
-    title = custom_types.Name()
+    title = wtypes.text
     """A descriptive label for the story, to show in listings."""
 
     description = wtypes.text
diff --git a/storyboard/api/v1/tasks.py b/storyboard/api/v1/tasks.py
index a6adf889..afb1cfd0 100644
--- a/storyboard/api/v1/tasks.py
+++ b/storyboard/api/v1/tasks.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import wsmeext.pecan as wsme_pecan
 
 from storyboard.api.auth import authorization_checks as checks
 from storyboard.api.v1 import base
-from storyboard.common import custom_types
 from storyboard.db.api import tasks as tasks_api
 from storyboard.db.api import timeline_events as events_api
 
@@ -38,8 +37,8 @@ class Task(base.APIBase):
     is generally linked to a code change proposed in Gerrit.
     """
 
-    title = custom_types.Name()
-    """A descriptive title. Will be displayed in lists."""
+    title = wtypes.text
+    """An optional short label for the task, to show in listings."""
 
     # TODO(ruhe): replace with enum
     status = wtypes.text
diff --git a/storyboard/common/custom_types.py b/storyboard/common/custom_types.py
deleted file mode 100644
index f1ca2558..00000000
--- a/storyboard/common/custom_types.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2014 Mirantis Inc.
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-# You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or
-# implied.
-# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-# limitations under the License.
-
-from wsme import types
-
-
-class Name(types.StringType):
-
-    # alpha-numeric, all kind of brackets, minus, slash, underscore and space
-    # at least 3 alpha-numeric symbols
-    _name_regex = r'^[a-zA-Z0-9\-_\[\]\(\)\{\}/\s]*' \
-                  r'[a-zA-Z0-9]{3,}' \
-                  r'[a-zA-Z0-9\-_\[\]\(\)\{\}/\s]*$'
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        super(Name, self).__init__(pattern=self._name_regex)