Twitter barking up Twittad’s tree over slogan using the word “tweet”

Someone’s got their feathers in a ruffle. Twitter is suing Twittad, a marketing company focused on promoting through Twitter, over the use of the word “tweet” in its slogan, “Let Your Ad Meet Tweets.”

Twitter told TechCrunch, “Twitter’s organic growth has taken many forms, including a widespread, dictionary-documented association of the word ‘Tweet’ with the use of Twitter. It is in the best interests of our users and developers for the meaning of ‘Tweet’ to be preserved to prevent any confusion, so we are taking action to protect its meaning.”

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Twitter has been touchy about the use of “tweet” in the past. In 2009, the social network filed for trademarks of the word in both the US and Europe to stop third party developers from using the word to describe their products. But Twittad claims to have trademarked their slogan long before in 2008.

The complaint reads:

This action arises from the registration of the mark “LET YOUR AD MEET TWEETS” by Twittad, LLC (“Twittad” or “Defendant”) in connection with online advertising services for use on Twitter. Defendant’s LET YOUR AD MEET TWEETS registration unfairly exploits the widespread association by the consuming public of the mark TWEET with Twitter, and threatens to block Twitter from its registration and legitimate uses of its own mark.

In fact, it appears that Defendant has used LET YOUR AD MEET TWEETS solely as a generic phrase to refer advertising in connection with Twitter itself, and as such it is incapable of serving as a mark, rendering the registration subject cancellation on that ground. Alternatively, if Defendant is able to establish use of LET YOUR AD MEET TWEETS as a mark, its registration is subject to cancellation based on Twitter’s preexisting rights in the TWEET mark.

Accordingly, Twitter seeks cancellation of Twittad’s LET YOUR AD MEET TWEETS trademark registration under the Lanham Act 15 U.S.C. § 1052(d), § 1064 and § 1119.

We have reached out to Twitter and Twittad for comment and will update upon hearing back.

[First image via VGramatikov/Shutterstock]