Try to obtain the FreeCAD twitter handle

[yorikvanhavre]

The FreeCAD twitter handle is owned by a person who has no relation with FreeCAD or, as far as we can see, with CAD. It is also almost inactive (last post in 2019, only 3 posts since 2010, 20 followers only).

We should try to reach to its owner and ask him to give it to us. I imagine the owner must be constantly annoyed by people thinking it's the official FreeCAD account. But:

• Direct messages are disabled, and the owner never replied to our mentions (both from me and @FreeCADNews). Although negotiating directly with the owner would be best, we have no way to do that.
• Twitter's inactive account policies prevent us from claiming the account just because it's inactive
• Twitter's trademark policy might allow us to obtain the handle. However, since the current owner is not trying to impersonate FreeCAD, it is not guaranteed that this will work. This case seems similar to ours.
• We could in the meantime also verify the @FreeCADNews account

[yorikvanhavre]

@luzpaz what do you think?

[yorikvanhavre]

Maybe this: https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-impersonation-and-deceptive-identities-policy (from this article)

[sliptonic]

People new to twitter first follow and are followed by people they know in the real world. We might be able to reach them through their followers.

In particular, the "@calvill" account is interesting. Active, followed by, and following. Created about the same time. Probably a close friend or family member

[yorikvanhavre]

Did today a request to obtain the @FreeCAD twitter handle, based on account inactivity and our trademark.

[luzpaz]

Great work!

[yorikvanhavre]

Reply from twitter:

Hello,

We've researched the reported account and determined that it is not in violation of Twitter's Trademark Policy. The account is not being used in a way that is misleading or confusing with regard to its brand, location or business affiliation.

Twitter does not have a username reservation policy. Users are free to select any name for their account, provided they do not violate Twitter's Terms of Service or Rules.

For more information about Twitter's Trademark Policy, please see:

http://support.twitter.com/articles/18367

Thanks,

Twitter

I don't think there is much more we can do... I'll let this open a little more in case someone has an idea

[luzpaz]

bummer

[yorikvanhavre]

We might want to keep an eye open here..

[sliptonic]

I chatted with @freecadnews about it last night. @FreeCAD liked a couple tweets in March of 2022. Unlikely to be purged.