Sedo sees "trademark concern" where there is none

[plaggypig]

I ordered a featured listing placement for tweet.in last week. A while after doing so I received an e-mail from a customer support chap claiming that Sedo feared if they were to feature it then they "might receive trademark complaints" and as such had decided not to allow the domain to be featured.

I assumed they probably just hadn't followed the discussion surrounding trademark issues for names containing tweet/twit, so I linked them to Twitter's declaration of a covenant on the use of tweet, which even encourages its use. This would assuage their fears, I thought.

Wrong. Sedo's response was as belligerent as ever, "As previously explained, we cannot promote this domain due to possible trademark complaints."

What I find rather amusing is the fact that Sedo quite happily auctioned tweet.me as part of their special .me event, so it hardly seems like they are applying this policy equally and fairly.

I give up.

 

[-REECE-]

Twitter has hinted recently (after the sale of Tweet.me) that they would prefer people do not register domains containing "Tweet" in them. Furthermore, Twitter has I believe now applied for a trademark on "Tweet" (again, after the sale of Tweet.me occurred). The current owner of Tweet.me approached Twitter before making his bid and got the okay from them.

That having been said, I'm a bit surprised they wouldn't let you list it, seeing as I've seen plenty of obvious TM-infringing domains listed (and sold) on Sedo in the past -- eg. gmaol.com is on Sedo auction right now

 

[plaggypig]

-REECE-, follow the link

Twitter Blog: May The Tweets Be With You

 

[-REECE-]

I guess the problem with selling it is that Sedo (and you) have no guarantee that the buyer will use it in a way which Twitter approves. Sounds farfetched that Sedo would go to such an extent to prevent you from selling the domain, especially when domains that are clearly TM-infringing are being sold there. Might be worth giving them a call rather than email.

-REECE-, follow the link

Twitter Blog: May The Tweets Be With You

 

[plaggypig]

More evidence of double-standards: twit.biz is a featured listing on Sedo!

 

[localexperts]

I had similiar problems with domains that reference the "yellow pages" even though AT&T never renewed for a trademark and the term has been in the public domains since the 50s.

Still, I've had logo companies and others refuse to work on anything with the term yellow pages even after I sent them links to legal sites showing the term was in the public domain.

 

[RazorNF]

Same goes for listing anything with the word window in it. I had a domain delisted because of a trademark concern, but anyone when seeing it, would know my name had nothing to do with the OS, but a type of window that you find on a house...

 

[footodors]

they have: englishwordperfect.com, greenrangerover.com, halo4reach.com featured.
They might be considered TM unfriendly.

 

[plaggypig]

Good news - Sedo revised its decision and decided to showcase tweet.in :tu: