Twitter Hands @NFLLockout Handle Over To NFL Union, Despite No Trademark
from the disputes-in-140-characters dept
Nearly two years ago, we wrote about the pending issue of Twitter squatting, with various people taking over the trademarked names of well-known companies on Twitter — and suggesting that Twitter needed a clear policy in handling such disputes. To date, however, Twitter basically seems to more or less handle these claims on a somewhat arbitrary basis.
Case in point, Elan Arbitsman points us to the news that Twitter simply handed over the username @NFLLockout to the NFL Players Association. Some other folks had registered the name and used it to discuss a possible NFL lockout. After they had done so, the NFLPA had registered the domain name NFLLockout.com, and then sought to get the Twitter handle from the guys. They offered to give them some stuff (apparently a life-sized poster or something). When the guys turned this down, the NFLPA went to Twitter, and Twitter just handed them the username. Even worse, Twitter implied that one of the reasons they did so was because the guys tried to “sell” the username — though they say they didn’t try to sell it, they just listened to offers from the NFLPA.
As the article notes, the NFLPA doesn’t own either NFL or “Lockout,” so it’s not entirely clear how they have a legitimate claim on the user account. I can see why the NFLPA would want the username, but it seems a bit weak that Twitter just handed it over (and scolded the original users in the process).
Filed Under: disputs, nfl, nfl lockout, trademark, twitter
Companies: nfl, twitter
Comments on “Twitter Hands @NFLLockout Handle Over To NFL Union, Despite No Trademark”
Spineless...
Just one more reason for me to stay out of the Twitterverse!
“I can see why the NFLPA would want the username…”
I’m not even clear on that. Are they not going to post lockout info to their normal Twitter feed?
Competition
Sounds like a good reason to use a different, but similar service to me!
Nice to see that the head twits are pussies.
What a bunch of dicks. I remember when MySpace did something similar to a band named Bones when a new TV show came out on Fox with the same name. For companies based in social media, you’d think they’d care a bit more about the people using their services instead of just rolling over at the whim of any union that comes along.
AC, wanna try competition?
Try identi.ca, heard good things about them
Mike is to blame on this one.
All the positive things he has been saying about Twitter lately……….Something like this was bound to happen.
Twatter
Anybody registered the above name? Seems appropriate as a alternative for Twitter
least of their worries
the nfl is willing to kill their league and they’re worried about a twitterfeed? tells you all you need to know about how blinkered they are.
rply
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