You might remember a few months ago whenTwitterstarted telling third-party developers inno uncertain termsthat they should shy away from building Twitter clients. Shortly thereafter, popular third-party client UberTwitter got a wrist-smack from Twitter, forcing a name change and a resubmission of its client for API access.
If reports comingfrom SAIpan out to be true, then the US Federal Trade Comission is quite interested in Twitter’s handling of its third-party builders and trouble could be on the horizon. According to a representative from UberMedia, the parent company of UberSocial (prevously UberTwitter):
We have been contacted by theFTCand are in the process of responding to their requests.
SAI reports that another app maker has been “advised not to talk about” the matter.
I’m playing the role of skeptic here, though, because much of what is being reported as the cause of the investigation doesn’t make sense. If welook back at the caseof UberSocial, the app was accused of not only violating trademark with its name, but also of mishandling how it sent direct messages that were over 140 characters in length.
Calling all Scaleup founders! Join the Soonicorn Summit on November 28 in Amsterdam.
Meet with the leaders of Picnic, Miro, Carbon Equity and more during this exclusive event dedicated to Scaleup Founders!
UberMedia CEO Bill Grossresponded to the charges, saying in an interview that UberSocial had changed its practices, though he did deny any wrongdoing in how the application was operating from the start.
Herein lies the issue at hand. If there really wasn’t more to the UberMedia and Twitter deal than what we were being told, then the matter was resolved long ago. So, either we haven’t yet heard the whole story, or the FTC is simply sticking its nose into an already-dead issue.
Story byBrad McCarty
A music and tech junkie who calls Nashville home, Brad is the Director TNW Academy. You can follow him on Twitter @BradMcCarty.(show all)A music and tech junkie who calls Nashville home, Brad is the DirectorTNW Academy. You can follow him on Twitter@BradMcCarty.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
