Marck Cuban recently asked whether his tweets were protected by copyright. This is an interesting question that I’m going to think over. In the meantime, I came across some interesting Twitter tools that you might find useful:
- Chirpcity shows the latest tweets from and about your city.
- TwitterLocal also filters by location.
- Filttr decides which posts are important to you, and filters your Twitter stream.
- HootSuite helps you manage multiple Twitter profiles.
- If you follow Mr. Tweet on Twitter, he will suggest people you should follow and recommend you to others.
- OutTwit allows you to use Outlook to update your Twitter status and follow others.
- This mashup, ToAnswer, helps you use Twitter to get your questions answered.
- Tweetag allows you to browse and search the most popular topics discussed within the last day.
- You can fileshare on TweetCube.
- If you want to write your Tweets in advance and schedule their release, use TweetLater.
- Graph your tweeting with TweetStats.
- Twellow is a Twitter user directory.
- You can add a bio, links, logo and more to your Twitter profile with TwitBacks.
- TwitBlockerallows you to block posts by someone you want to follow without unfollowing them.
- Share photos on Twitter with TwitPic.
- Measure the reach and authority of a Twitter use with Twitter Grader.
- Twitzu blasts out your meetings or seminar.
- Create polls with Twtpoll.
Whether your 140 characters are copyrightable or not, at least you can get the most from your tweets with these tools.
This is awesome!
I think twitter will say they own the tweets until there is a twitter rebellion over the user agreement, like facebook runs into everytime they change something…
P.S. Check out YPC’s Twitter page at ypchicago.
Thanks Robyn!
Matt – You bring up an excellent point, and practically speaking, you’re probably right. I think the theorectical question is whether the 140 character tweet is enough expression to be considered creative or unique. Usually, copyright law doesn’t cabin itself in by requiring length to merit the right, so that means a tweet shouldn’t be precluded. On the other hand, you and I might share the same idea and if we both posted tweets, 140 characters might preclude us from differentiating ourselves from one another.
Like I said, I need to give this some more thought, but I’m interested to hear what you have to say. You raise a fair point.
Also, WeFollow is a user powered Twitter directory <http://wefollow.com/>
It does seem difficult to be able to create enough creativity or uniqueness in <140 words, to be protected expression. But couldn’t a haiku be considered a protected expression? It seems to me that if creativity is established, with less than 140 words to work with, it would be more difficult for the non-author to justify his use as being "just enough" needed both qualitatively and quantitatively to exhibit something original.
But like you mentioned, "copyrightable or not," great tools! Thanks!
Some new ones for me on that list. Thanks a lot.