Qwiskter Twitter User Hoping to Cash In on Netflix Name Change
Qwiskter Twitter User Hoping to Cash In on Netflix Name Change
Posted 09/20/2011 at 6:59am
| by Paul Lilly
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The brand recognition Netflix is going for with its Qwikster spin-off probably isn't one of a pot-smoking Elmo, yet up until this morning, that's the image people would have seen if they tried to follow Qwikster on Twitter. That's the sort of thing you risk by not doing your due diligence, and in this case, Netflix failed to check the social networking scene before settling on the name Qwikster, which is the Twitter handle of someone who likes to blaze, play soccer, and rage about his ex-girlfriend.
Jason Castillo, the rightful owner of the Qwikster handle on Twitter, changed his profile picture this morning, likely in a bid to increase the account's value.
"Dayum over 3,120 follower just cuz some ppl wanna buy my handle, 3 ppl have asked but idk who to trust," Qwikster tweeted yesterday.
Mr. Castillo claims he was offered $1,000 for his Twitter tag, but if he holds out for Netflix to make an offer, the account could be worth much more. He's already amassed nearly 10,000 followers since news of Netflix's DVD-rental name change cycled through cyberspace, and that appears to be his plan.
"Just got off the fone wit my right hand man on all this Gabe-@SoccerlsLifegc7 we gonna make shyt hapen cuz wen its over I wanna say #IMadeit," Castillo tweeted while butchering the English language.
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Conin
September 22, 2011 at 1:35pm
...the guy should sell his Twitter account for 50 bucks, and get an English dictionary with that money so he can learn how to write correctly.
Slurpy
September 20, 2011 at 11:17am
Too bad for him that Twitter's ToS prohibits selling usernames.
Though I suppose that's better than getting sued for squatting, which would undoubtedly work beautifully with our corporate-friendly court system these days.
Slugbait
September 20, 2011 at 2:42pm
That same ToS prohibits the offer to buy usernames. In other words it were Netflix making the 1K offer, they could have their twitter account permanently revoked, and the kid is in the clear as long as he doesn't sell it. But I doubt it was Netflix making the offer...likely somebody else hoping to flip the name to Netflix for a tidy profit.
And the kid can't be sued for squatting. Cybersquatting applies to domain names, not user names or account names. And it's not Namejacking...besides, Namejacking is legal. But let's assume for a moment that I'm wrong about all that: Netflix still can't sue because the kid created his account name long before Netflix created their new company name...squatting requires proof of anticipation and intent (otherwise known as "bad-faith").
don2041
September 20, 2011 at 10:00am
This bikkering is boring lets bring out the copyright layers to spruce this show up a bit.
bling581
September 20, 2011 at 9:46am
One would be a moron to settle for $1,000 with a company like Netflix. They've already gone and stated what the name would be for their new DVD mail business so it would be unwise to back peddle, but not impossible. It's not as big as a website name but I would expect a little more for something like a Twitter name.
jgrimoldy
September 20, 2011 at 8:49am
I don't know which is more annoying:
The lack of foresight on Netflix's part (and THEY, if anybody, should have their shit together).
This douchebag's utter asshatery.
MaximumMike
September 21, 2011 at 4:26pm
Why is this guy an asshat? He's being asked to hand over a user name he chose for himself so Netflix can make money off of it. Lets suppose BP discovers there is oil on you land, which you knew nothing about and have no way to profit from yourself, but which they can profit from. Would you be an asshat because you refused to hand it over for free?
Caboose
September 20, 2011 at 8:23am
There needs to be some form of universal spell and grammar check on the internet, which prevents you from posting something that makes NO fucking sense. And if you're posting on an English forum, your post needs to be in proper English, not this bullshit!
I honestly hope that Netflix either changes the name from Qwiskter to something else, or offers this guy $500 for the handle.
What a moron!
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