Twitter-Twitpic Trademark Dispute and Latest News: GOODBYE TWITPIC - Would Rather Go Out of Business than Abandon Trademark

Twitter-Twitpic Trademark Dispute and Latest News: GOODBYE TWITPIC - Would Rather Go Out of Business than Abandon Trademark

Twitpic is a website that offers online picture sharing to its users. Sadly, it is finally shutting down in September 25 this year. The trademark dispute with Twitter has taken an ugly turn. Twitter has threatened to remove Twitpic's access to its API if it does not give in.

Here is an excerpt of Twitpic's online statement:

"A few weeks ago Twitter contacted our legal demanding that we abandon our trademark application or risk losing access to their API. This came as a shock to us since Twitpic has been around since early 2008, and our trademark application has been in the USPTO since 2009."

Twitpic founder Noah Everett wrote that the company faced and overcome several obstacles in the filing of its trademarks. It was during the 'published for opposition' stage that Twitter gave the ultimatum to Twitpic. Rather than

In the same online statement Mr. Everett wrote, "Unfortunately we do not have the resources to fend off a large company like Twitter to maintain our mark which we believe wholeheartedly is rightfully ours. Therefore, we have decided to shut down Twitpic.

Twitter's Reaction

Arstechnica reported that Twitter is "sad to see that Twitpic is shutting down." Twitter said that it had no problem with the picture sharing site in continuing to use the Twitpic name. But Twitter does not want the Twitpic name to be trademarked because in their view it would adversely affect "its brand". If Twitpic does not trademark its name, other companies can also use the name Twitpic.

Although Twitpic can be used without Twitter, it is a service especially suited for Twitter (based on Wikipedia). Both Twitpic and Twitter share the same username and password. Twitpic photo comments are being sent as tweets. The shortness of the URLs in Twitpics is the ideal setting in Twitter.

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