Podcast network creator and G4techTV Canada host Leo Laporte has deleted his Twitter account and will no longer be using the service due to trademark issues. The concerns center on the notion that there might be brand confusion between Laporte’s fast growing podcast network TWiT (This Week In Tech) and Twitter. The move came as a surprise given that Laporte has been one of the chief advocates of the service and could arguably be credited with a potion of its rapid adoption among Internet users. But early last week Laporte commented on one of his podcasts, “I’m being advised that I have to send a cease and desist letter to twitter.” Around the same time, Laporte left a message on his Twitter account saying, “I am worried about losing my trademark - Ev [Williams] and I need to talk.” Ironically, just last week Laporte was ranked number one on Twitterholic, a site that tracks the most popular Twitter users.
Not much more was made of the issue until Friday when Laporte released a statement on his website:“Twitter is [Evan Williams’] well deserved second home run. But I'm leaving it… Twitter is so close to TWiT that I'm afraid it's really confusing. And it hasn't helped the confusion that I've been such a fan of Twitter.” Adding to Laporte’s apparent concern was the fact that new companies were quickly sprouting up around the Twitter service, using various iterations of the word “twit” or “twitter” in their company names. Laporte said, “I'm sure half the people [out] there think we have some sort of relationship. But we don't. And the proliferation of programs like Twitbox and sites like Twit This are not helping things much.” Featuring some of the top tech pundits in the Valley, as well as members of the old TechTV television family, TWiT has become a staple for many podcast listeners. Currently, TWiT allows users to donate to the network and accepts limited advertising from sponsors such as Dell Computer, T-Mobile and Visa.
