Domain name Tweet 'leads to concerns'

Social networking site Twitter appears to be getting uncomfortable with the word Tweet appearing in domain names, it has been reported.

TechCrunch has been forwarded an email conversation between a third-party developer and a Twitter API team member, who was concerned about the former's use of a user interface for its web-based service which is similar to Twitter's web application.

Robin Wauters, writing for the publication, noted that the email referred to the word Tweet as a trademark.

However, when he searched the API documentation and Terms of Service, he found no mention of this, although trademarks have been filed.

Speaking to the IT resource, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said: "We encourage developers of new applications and services built using Twitter APIs to invent original branding for their projects rather than use our marks, logos, or look and feel."

Many domain names have been purchased containing variants of Twitter and Tweet.

Domain Name Wire stated that while Tweet.me was sold on online domain name auction site Sedo for $11,505 (£7,018), using tweet in a business domain name could lead to "trouble".

Written by Greig Daines