Twitter is an amazing communications tool. I type a message of 140 letters, press a button and off it goes to my 750 "followers". If they like it, then they may send it onto their followers. Potentially my message can then get to 225 000 people. If all those people like it and re tweet it, then that is 55 million people! Imagine what my Klout score would do if that happened (I am currently 63, Obama is 99 out of 1o0 and Justin Bieber is 92 ). I digress a little.
As twitter has grown, we have seen grown adults cry over tweets, people resign, hide and get sued. While this is still a new field, Luke Scanlon a technology law expert at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com has listed in The Register of the UK ten tweets to avoid if you do not wish to be sued. These in summary are:
As twitter has grown, we have seen grown adults cry over tweets, people resign, hide and get sued. While this is still a new field, Luke Scanlon a technology law expert at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com has listed in The Register of the UK ten tweets to avoid if you do not wish to be sued. These in summary are:
- Using someone else's Branded Tweets or Hashtags. eg #Qantas #Southwest @Unitedairlines potentially could result in a damages claim if the use creates a "likelihood of association or confusion with the products or services of the trade mark owner"
- Copied tweets- if the tweet which reproduces the work of another gives evidence of that other individual or company's unique choices in choosing and arranging the words or images or sounds.
- Revealing personal or confidential information
- Threatening tweets - if the person to whom it was directed has a genuine belief that physical harm is imminent.
- Impersonating Someone else is fraud
- If the tweet is deceptive in nature or likely to deceive
- Menacing Tweets - If a tweet could create fear or apprehension in the minds of anyone who may reasonably be expected to see it then the tweet can be considered menacing
- Malicious tweets done with the intent of damaging another's business, goods or services through false statements
- Harassing tweets
- Defamatory tweets - you are libelous if you send a tweet which lowers a person's standing and expose them to 'hatred, ridicule, or contempt'. Does that mean I cannot Tweet about any politician?
