Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets • Hacker News Board

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#21

Post by jfarmer » Mon, May 04, 2009, 4:48 PM UTC

dryicerx wrote: post #19

jfarmer wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every business is built on other businesses. In the 1800s if you wanted distribution you had to play ball with the railroad barons. This is just the 21st century equivalent. Likewise, if you're building a destination website you're dependent on Google, email spam lists (don't get blacklisted!), browser vendors (MSFT and ESPN once conspired to make espn.com for IE-only), and even ISPs (see: Net Neutrality). The risks…

There is a difference between those early dependence and Twitter. Twitter is still young, it's uncertain, and worst it's future is really unpredictable because it doesn't even have a business model to generate revenue yet. Building on top of a business is sensible when you are depending on something that's been there for a while, know it's dependable and have a reputation. This twitter does not have. If the same serv…

Like I said: risk and reward. From the article it's clear that Twitter was a big benefit to his company. It became the #2 referrer after Google. Given the network effect inherent in Twitter, I bet it would become #1 over time.

That's why he's so upset that Twitter cut him off.

So, yes, building on Twitter is riskier. Building on Facebook is riskier. But as distribution channels they have huge upside.

If the risk is too high don't build and wait for the channels to become more mature.

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#22

Post by RobbieStats » Mon, May 04, 2009, 4:52 PM UTC

silencio wrote: post #14

I'm curious: did you at any point contact Twitter for their blessing (of your 650 accounts for this particular use)? I meant, before they started suspending your accounts? Or even before you created the accounts?

Yes, I contacted their bizdev email alias back in November. I got no response.

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#23

Post by didroe » Mon, May 04, 2009, 5:11 PM UTC

ieatpaste wrote: post #8

In addition to the multiple accounts which break TOC, it might also be a direction in which they want to go with their "secret business models." This might be loosely supported by the trending topics added to the user pages, but this is largely due to my speculation.

I thought the secret was that there is no business model. :)

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#24

Post by sachinag » Mon, May 04, 2009, 5:23 PM UTC

pj wrote: post #5

I think Twitter here is making the correct decision. I know it isn't happy for you, RobbieStats, but the ramifications for them, whether you are breaking the law, or they are through allowing you to do it, are tremendously not fun. As a business they need to err on the side of caution. Look what Youtube went through with Viacom and some other content creators. Also, I think your article says that to have a case again…

You're wrong about the stats of the game. NBA v. Motorola cleared up that stats - even real-time stats - are not an exhibition of the game and can be freely disseminated as they are reports of factual occurrences. First useful Google hit: http://lsolum.typepad.com/copyfutures/2004/09/several_of_my_... The sports leagues' disclaimers are empty nothingness.

IANAL, but I've been working on 1st Amendment stuff as a layperson since 1997.

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#25

Post by andrewbadera » Mon, May 04, 2009, 5:34 PM UTC

Perhaps you should deal with the API staff and not the support staff. You're probably familiar with the dev list, right? Try contacting Doug Williams on this.

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#26

Post by pj » Mon, May 04, 2009, 5:42 PM UTC

sachinag wrote: post #24

pj wrote: post #5

I think Twitter here is making the correct decision. I know it isn't happy for you, RobbieStats, but the ramifications for them, whether you are breaking the law, or they are through allowing you to do it, are tremendously not fun. As a business they need to err on the side of caution. Look what Youtube went through with Viacom and some other content creators. Also, I think your article says that to have a case again…

You're wrong about the stats of the game. NBA v. Motorola cleared up that stats - even real-time stats - are not an exhibition of the game and can be freely disseminated as they are reports of factual occurrences. First useful Google hit: http://lsolum.typepad.com/copyfutures/2004/09/several_of_my_... The sports leagues' disclaimers are empty nothingness. IANAL, but I've been working on 1st Amendment stuff as a laype…

Thanks for pointing that out!

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#27

Post by trickjarrett » Mon, May 04, 2009, 5:46 PM UTC

shabda wrote: post #13

patio11 wrote: post #6

Without warning Twitter shuts down... 650 accounts controlled by the same people. You don't say.

Imo, There is a valid reason for 650 accounts. Plus twitter is interesting because of 3rd party apps, so they should be responsive with support emails.

They definitely should be more responsive, their customer service department needs to be massively upsized. And a valid reason for 650 accounts is still invalidated by the fact that it goes directly against their TOS.

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#28

Post by paul7986 » Mon, May 04, 2009, 7:33 PM UTC

shabda wrote: post #13

patio11 wrote: post #6

Without warning Twitter shuts down... 650 accounts controlled by the same people. You don't say.

Imo, There is a valid reason for 650 accounts. Plus twitter is interesting because of 3rd party apps, so they should be responsive with support emails.

Obviously a way for Twitter to make money would allow developers to pay to create mass accounts for these types of utilities.

Copyright is a different ball-game!

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#29

Post by Confusion » Mon, May 04, 2009, 8:12 PM UTC

trickjarrett wrote: post #27

shabda wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imo, There is a valid reason for 650 accounts. Plus twitter is interesting because of 3rd party apps, so they should be responsive with support emails.

They definitely should be more responsive, their customer service department needs to be massively upsized. And a valid reason for 650 accounts is still invalidated by the fact that it goes directly against their TOS.

Against the letter, but not against the intention. As with the law, TOS's necessarily have shortcomings, because they cannot possibly cover all circumstances of every individual case. It would be nice if they didn't just flaunt the letter of the TOS in his face, but would explain why they do not want users like him. That would be a fair warning to others. As it stands, it's anyones guess what is and what is not allowed.

Re: Without Warning, Twitter Kills StatTweets

#30

Post by Confusion » Mon, May 04, 2009, 8:18 PM UTC

dryicerx wrote: post #19

jfarmer wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every business is built on other businesses. In the 1800s if you wanted distribution you had to play ball with the railroad barons. This is just the 21st century equivalent. Likewise, if you're building a destination website you're dependent on Google, email spam lists (don't get blacklisted!), browser vendors (MSFT and ESPN once conspired to make espn.com for IE-only), and even ISPs (see: Net Neutrality). The risks…

There is a difference between those early dependence and Twitter. Twitter is still young, it's uncertain, and worst it's future is really unpredictable because it doesn't even have a business model to generate revenue yet. Building on top of a business is sensible when you are depending on something that's been there for a while, know it's dependable and have a reputation. This twitter does not have. If the same serv…

It isn't wise to depend on it for your livelihood, but in this case he wasn't. He invested some time in it and reaped benefits. It may well have been a profitable investment.