Twitter Squatters Take Over Where Domain Squatters Left Off: Resolution Policy Needed?
from the conflict-resolution-in-140-characters dept
In 1994, reporter Joshua Quittner famously registered the domain name mcdonalds.com, and wrote a whole article about how so many top brand names were available for registering by anyone who wanted them. Reading the article sounds pretty amazing in retrospect. The one and only domain name registrar at the time, InterNIC had a grand total of 2.5 people reviewing each and every application and trying to avoid "obvious" conflicts -- except that didn't seem to work. As Quittner points out, Sprint had registered MCI.com. There was eventually a bit of a battle over mcdonalds.com, and once people finally realized this was a big deal, a process, the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) process was created.Of course, these days, there are many more ways that your brands interact online than just by your domain name. Erik Heels, an internet-savvy lawyer (and regular Techdirt reader) has gone through Twitter and discovered that of the top 100 global brands, only 7 have their main brand registered as a Twitter ID. Most of the others have Twittersquatters who have already taken the name. Heels, himself, grabbed the Twitter ID for Moet & Chandon and even made it look slightly "real." And, of course, it goes beyond just Twitter as well, where usernames at plenty of other services are increasingly important as well.
Many of these services have ad hoc processes by which they will "resolve" a dispute over a name, but Heels worries about how that will work. In the case of Twitter, basically the company just reserves the right to do what it thinks is right. But, that could obviously lead to some questionable situations -- and eventually even some lawsuits (remember the cease and desist sent by Burger King using Twitter? Why are the fast food burger joints at the center of all of these disputes?). Heels proposes extending the UDRP into a much more complete system for Uniform Username Dispute Resolution Policy or UURP. This way there's a clear process for anyone who disputes the use of a username in any particular service. It certainly seems like an idea worth discussing.
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Filed Under: squitting, twittersquatting, username dispute resolution
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Trademark
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Re: Trademark
Every new thing - whatever it is must conform to the big megacorp requirements
I call BS
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Twittersquatting
Brandjacking, usernamesquatting, Twittersquatting (whatever you want to call it) is a major problem now. Do we really want to wait 4-5 years for a UURP?
It's a fixable problem. We should fix it.
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Re: Twittersquatting
Ok, now explain. I'll wait.
What you're not seeing is that it's simply going to be a name grab where even a username is somehow intellectual property to these people, especially if that username is a part of the next big shiny thing: domain names, myspace, facebook, twitter, goatse..
If you try to bring control to that situation in any way other than to take an active, non-litigious approach to learning what's hot and registering accounts on those sites, it will spiral out of control AND come back to haunt you.
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Re: Twittersquatting
So let's take an example from current pop culture. Recently, Burger King came up with an idea of an "Angry Whopper". I only learned about this one night I pulled up to a Burger King, and saw this big ass ad for an "Angry Whopper". Having no frame of reference, I thought aloud "Why the hell do I want an Angry Whopper?"
My passengers agreed and subsequently, all of us decided to order something else. But the genius in it is that it successfully created buzz. When I look at it from a product development perspective, I actually seeked out ads and twitter feeds about this so called "Angry Whopper" and became interested about what already existed in Google et al, for me. (These guys know their SEO, I thought.)
Geek aside, I asked if a burger could really be better than me. Admittedly, I've bought a few of these "Angry Whoppers" now, and they are damn tasty. I have even sent a few "angry whopper emails" to people after finding their cleverly hidden website.
So yes, Twitter and everything else can help, but if you can't figure out what the hell your selling, maybe you need a better ad agency who can create a complete concept of HOW TO SELL IT.
But because this is TechDirt, and I feel some obligation to some sort Tech geekiness, I look forward to the continuance of that confusing Seinfeld/Gates ads.
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Site Usernames are Not Domains
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Re: Site Usernames are Not Domains
Unlike the domain name system, Twitter usernames are part of the Twitter service, which is owned by a private company. It's up to the company how it operates the service, including how it resolves username disputes.
Beyond legal obligations, such as trademarks, Twitter can use any method to rule on a username dispute, including a fight to the death or a quest for a golden ring. If a user disagrees with this or any other aspect of the Terms of Service, then he or she should use another service instead.
I understand why some people would support a movement for a UURP. However, I don't like the implications of such a policy. How could it be enforced? Policies regarding domain names can be enforced because ICANN reigns over the registrars. What body can force a private service to comply save a national legislature? And that's not a universal solution at all. Similarly, if this is just a voluntary policy, it seems rather pointless.
Is this really even that big a deal? Very few people in the world have a unique name, and I'm sure there's plenty of overlap for corporations as well. Part of the fun on the Internet is creating a good username to fit the identity one wants on a particular service. Sometimes you won't get to use exactly the username you want. If the issue is related to impersonation, defamation, or libel, then it's a legal matter and the service should already have methods in place for addressing those issues.
I'm not in favour of Twittersquatting. It's as distasteful as domain name squatting. But it's up to Twitter how it wants to deal with this issue.
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Re: Site Usernames are Not Domains
Right, that's the point that Erik's making. That the way Twitter deals with those types of situations is going to lead to problems -- so having a set process would be a lot more reasonable.
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Re: Site Usernames are Not Domains
Come to think of it, anyone using a domain name should be under no illusion they own it either. ;)
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If you want all sites to be forced into doing a common, centralized, arbitrated discussion on who should own usernames it would take a bureaucracy the likes of which we have never seen. Once something like this is attempted for even a few of the most popular social networking sites it would become ludicrous.
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Re: Ahem...
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Don't know if I should laugh or cry
http://whoppersacrifice.com/
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It doesn't really matter..
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Re: It doesn't really matter..
I would suggest that you haven't been paying much attention. Mainstream companies have been incredibly successful on Twitter. Dell made over half a million dollars off a promotion they put on twitter. Comcast has been very successful doing customer service via Twitter. I've had very helpful interactions with two separate companies via Twitter.
Mainstream companies that are smart do care about it and are doing quite well because of it.
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Duh..
http://blog.blendah.com/2007/11/hypocriacy-brought-me-out-of-retirement.html
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There is though an easy solution, albiet the Big Corps won't like.
McDonald's does not have the sole exclusive use of the name McDonalds.
They have the S.E.U. of McDonalds, Inc. or Corp.
Make business use their whole name if they want to protect it.
What about Nicknames of companies? Mickey D's. Who has the right to that?
Its just a pretty stupid argument once you leave the URL's.
First to purchase gets it. And considering for every 10 sites that you sign up with, how many will actually be around or successful 5 years from now?
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Squitters
http://www.domainnamenews.com/miscellaneous/the-top-100-global-brands-still-dont-get-online-medi a/3570
http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal-issues/reverse-user-name-hijackings/3590
http://www .domainnamenews.com/miscellaneous/social-media-user-names-becoming-more-like-domain-names/3556
ht tp://blog.stevepoland.com/twitter-usernames-are-like-domains-in-1995/
Twitter squatters are referred to as squitters btw
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a.) Twitter's 15 minutes of fame is about up b.) it is a private company and could reassign a user name unilaterally.
think before you blog
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Article is great
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First Come First Served
The BS about this or that trademark, or copyright or other IP BS is just that BS! To use the example from the article of mcdonalds.com then dolts at mcdonalds should have registered their domain. Some one else did. TOO BAD! Offer to purchase it. If it turns out you have to pay big $$$ for it, oh well, you had your chance.
Same goes for all the new TLD's, the whole BS of letting this or that trademark etc. IP crap register ahead of time. BZZT ! This is a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED deal. If I am quick enough to register mcdonlads.newtld before corporate can too bad, go cry to some one who cares. Yes, going to mcdonalds.newtld may not go to where you think it does. Theres a pretty good example in a certain whitehouse dot something domain that has NOTHING to with a certain white house in the district of columbia.
Billy Bob plumbing doesn't get any special period to register v. any other Billy bob plumbing in the world the other corporate trash should play by the same rules.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
This should apply to domains or user names or any thing else. If I am smart/lucky enough to register thenextbigname.tld then so be it. If some one wants to offer me some $$ for it, great. If not I can pay $9-45/year to keep it.
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Re: First Come First Served
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Re: Re: First Come First Served
The "rightful owner" as you mention is:
HE WHO REGISTERS FIRST, PERIOD.
Your argument that because some entity/person holds blipptybloop (tm)(c)(r) or other BS this "entitles" them to blipptybloop.tld
NO it does NOT. Did some one register it before you? Yes, oh well you pay to transfer the domain to you. Too much? Get something else. I waited several years for some one to loose control of a domain I wanted and then picked it up when it expired. Thats the way the game works, or you can pay to purchase it.
Just because you have some (tm)(c)(r) doesn't mean you get a free ride. You want to protect your (tm)(c)(r) register that domain or user name first. NO your not going to get first crack at it either! You take you chances to register just like any one else be it Mr. McDonald or mcdonalds inc. or some other guy who gets lucky. NO FAVORS for the big or little guy.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!
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Re: Re: Re: First Come First Served
I AM A PARASYTE the domains I REGISTER want and use PRODUCE NOTHING.
The "rightful owner" as you mention is:
HE WHO REGISTERS FIRST, PERIOD.
Who cares if I put porn on the whitehouse.com
Your argument that because some entity/person holds blipptybloop (tm)(c)(r) or other BS this "entitles" them to blipptybloop.tld
NO it does NOT. Did some one register it before you? Yes, oh well you pay to transfer the domain to you. Too much? Get something else. I waited several years for some one to loose control of a domain AND JUMPED THEIR CLAIM BECAUSE THEY FORGOT TO RE-REGISTER I wanted and then picked it up when it expired. Thats the way the //game works//, or you can pay to purchase it.
ITS NOT A GAME SCUMBAG
Just because you have some (tm)(c)(r) doesn't mean you get a free ride. You want to protect your (tm)(c)(r) register that domain or user name first. NO your not going to get first crack at it either!
A$$ HOLES LIKE YOU MY ME AND MY CUSTOMERS REGISTER ////EVERY NEW TOP LEVEL DOMAIN/// OUT OF FEAR THAT YOU WILL SELL THE NAME TO A COMPETITOR.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF OFF AND DIE
You take you chances to register just like any one else be it Mr. McDonald or mcdonalds inc. or some other guy who gets lucky. NO FAVORS for the big or little guy.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!
DIE DIE DIE
YOU PRODUCE NOTHING BUT GRIEF.......
FIND A REAL JOB
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Re: First Come First Served
Unfortunately for you it's not, as seen by various comments here. Not to mention some parties dispute other people's rights every other day, especially when any applicable law exists.
No doubt some like to think the so-called "rightful owner" is the one who grabbed that item or so first. But none of us get to have our way all the time, and some happen to be in a stronger position to enforce their belief or so-called "right".
Anyway, Twitter can (almost) easily fix this. That won't necessarily stop someone from suing, even though it's potentially absurd.
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Who let the 12 year-olds out?
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That's Not the Solution
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No one likes a domain squatter
http://www.3ac.co.uk/no-one-likes-a-domain-squatter
I'm guessing this is exactly the same way a lot of people feel.
And in response to FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, b*llocks to you!
Domain squatters and these new twitter squatters are scum of the earth.
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