Trend Hunter Founder Challenges His Own Trademark
Jeremy Gutsche — July 14, 2009 — About
References: Facebook
I filed a trademark violation against myself and it worked. SWEET!
In the middle of launching our new Trend Hunter Facebook Fan Page, Facebook announced personalized usernames. The kicker was that our new page did not have enough fans to secure its own name. So, I personally squatted on the /trendhunter username to make sure nobody else registered it...
The problem with this approach is that Facebook does not let users switch their username. So how could I get the Trend Hunter Fan Page to be /trendhunter?
This week I noticed that trademark owners could file trademark violation reports and secure back their trademarks... So I did.
Specifically, I filed a Trademark Violation against myself, and within a day, Facebook relinquished the username back to the trademark owner... Which, of course, is also me.
Finally, Facebook.com/TrendHunter and Facebook.com/JeremyGutsche are different!
In the middle of launching our new Trend Hunter Facebook Fan Page, Facebook announced personalized usernames. The kicker was that our new page did not have enough fans to secure its own name. So, I personally squatted on the /trendhunter username to make sure nobody else registered it...
The problem with this approach is that Facebook does not let users switch their username. So how could I get the Trend Hunter Fan Page to be /trendhunter?
This week I noticed that trademark owners could file trademark violation reports and secure back their trademarks... So I did.
Specifically, I filed a Trademark Violation against myself, and within a day, Facebook relinquished the username back to the trademark owner... Which, of course, is also me.
Finally, Facebook.com/TrendHunter and Facebook.com/JeremyGutsche are different!
Trend Themes
1. Personalized Usernames - There is an opportunity for businesses to capitalize on personalized usernames for branding and social media marketing.
2. Trademark Violation Reports - The process of filing trademark violations can be leveraged as a disruptive innovation to regain control of valuable digital assets.
3. Protecting Intellectual Property - There is a growing need for individuals and businesses to explore innovative ways to protect their intellectual property rights in the digital landscape.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - The social media industry can benefit from offering services and tools to help businesses manage and protect their usernames and trademarks.
2. Brand Management - The field of brand management is poised to embrace disruptive innovation opportunities by incorporating strategies to secure and retain valuable digital assets.
3. Legal Services - Law firms and legal professionals can explore innovative approaches to assist clients in navigating the complexities of trademark violations and intellectual property protection in the digital realm.
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