According to TechCrunch, “Twitter handles are quickly becoming as desirable as domains”.
A new service just lauched this week called Tweexchange, a marketplace which allows “Twitter members to exchange, buy or find Twitter usernames from other existing members.”
Tweexchange also lets you easily find what Twitter handles have been taken and recommends alternate usernames for your desired Twitter handle.
“”If you do see a Twitter name available that you’d like to buy or negotiate, Tweexchange lets you send the owner a Tweet or email inquiry.””
As TechCrunch points out “Selling Twitter names is apparently against Twitter’s, rules, but it’s unclear as to how and if Twitter is enforcing this rule.”
According to the website recently exhanged twitter names include “ukfallenangel for $100.00, bostondesigner for $15,000, and betmoney for $500,000.00.
$500K for a Twitter account?
Names currently on sale include, betonfootball $2,500, playblackjack $25,000, and getporn for $50K, just to name a few.
The most interesting part of Techcrunch’s post is:
“””Twitter Squatting” is become a popular phenomenon. People are taking up brand names, company names and famous individuals names, as user names, in the hopes of cashing in big one day, like many who bought popular domain names have in the past. Most recently, CNN and James Cox, the original owner of CNNbrk (CNN’s breaking news Twitter account) entered into a deal for Cox to act as a consultant as the network “acquired” the Twitter name. The news that CNN didn’t own the actual CNN Twitter handle emerged during CNN’s competition with Ashton Kutcher to see who reached 1 million followers first. CNN didn’t disclose how much the network is paying Cox for the consulting gig.”””
The obvious question is, if you can’t have a domain name that infringes on a famous trademark, then how can you have a twitter account and do the same?
Moreover, why whould a major corporation “do a deal” with the owner of such an infringing trademarked twitter name, rather than go after them legally in federal court?
I got to the twitter game late but was still able to snag “countertops”, “faxnumbers” and “medspa”. Domaining has trained me well. 🙂
Moreover, why whould a major corporation “do a deal” with the owner of such an infringing trademarked twitter name, rather than go after them legally in federal court?
The reason and I have sold several names based on this premise….time is money and the opportunity cost of not having the name.
Typo domains do not qualify for that thought process. However, If CNN, ABC,NBC,and Fox all have their handles CBS might just pay money to get it. It is not a question of can they get it, it is how long will it take and what is the “cost” to the company.
Has anyone signed up yet.It looks fishy to me.Any comments.
I don’t understand why CNN just didn’t go to Twitter. I believe it says in their terms that they have a right to take back names that infringe on copyrights, etc.
Also, if you read that thread on TechCrunch towards the end and then check their account, it’s been suspended!
Speaking of Twitter not going after infringers:
http://twitr.us/
it tells me that some of the names I search for “Are Available, Get It Now”. I click get it now then it tells me it’s not available. Anyone sharing in this experience.
If it hasn’t happened by now, the Twitter owners will be shutting down any “formal” exchange/sale “marketplaces” like these soon enough.
These are not domains, they don’t want to tick off companies and others who have their TM rights high jacked, and they don’t want to deal with all the other problems buying & selling Twitter handles will involve them in.
Unlike domains, Twitter is 100% their game, and they’ll do with it as they please.
…and just for the fun of it, I tested a fair number of high-value generic words (take a look for yourselves). All those I tested are taken.
Every single one.
Based on this, it wouldn’t surprise me if 75%+ of Twitter handles are inactive, or virtually so…making their “member/user” numbers a rather inaccurate depiction of the true popularity of their service (as measured by the actual use/implementation level).
Any domain owners who haven’t already done so may want to grab those that match their most valuable generic domains for possible future use…if they’re still available…and while they still can (though a separate e-mail address for each one).
This could prove to be especially important for any domains you are or may in the future want to develop into actual, operating businesses.
“BetMoney” was suspended by Twitter. I wonder if the buyer was able to get his $500K back…