Bye Bye Qantas twitter account

[The Rok]

Qantas grounds spoof Twitter account

Australia's Qantas has shut down a parody public relations account for the airline on social media site Twitter, saying Tuesday it was "causing confusion" for customers.

I really don't think social media is Qantas's strong point.

 

[yohy?!]

Disappointed - here I was hoping they'd 'enhanced' the geniuses behind the main twitter account (and the 'First Class' debacle)

 

[munitalP]

I cannot speak high enough of @qantasairways on Twitter. Absolute God send.

Anyone who disagrees #Idontcare

 

[thewinchester]

Qantas grounds spoof Twitter account

I really don't think social media is Qantas's strong point.

Queue post with the perspective of AFF's Social Media expert in residence.

Short version: Oh cry me a freaking river. This isn't even worthy of a single paragraph being written about it. Non story being written by those who don't understand the medium and issues.

Long version: Once again, supposed journalists looking for a cheap non-story that'll get heaps of impressions online that creates a mountain out of a molehill.

1) The parody account in question was in clear violation of the Twitter terms of service, in that parody accounts must explicitly and clearly state they are parody accounts. @QantasPR failed to do so.

2) The confusion arose because the account was using the registered trade marks of a company without it's permission, for an unauthorised purpose, in a manner which would violate relevant trademark law.

2a) The parody defense doesn't apply to the use of QF trademarks by the parody account as the logo was presented unaltered from the registered trade mark.

3) Qantas's complaint was specially in relation to (2), and not that the account existed.

4) Twitter, Inc. made the decision to close the account based on the TOS violation outlined at (1). The fact that the closure of the account occured after QF's complaint specifically in relation to trademark misuse on Twitter's platform is just a case of the Latin fallacy post hoc ergo propter hoc.

The idiot behind the parody account should know better, and there is a significant body of material out there documenting best practice in the operation of parody twitter accounts.

Further, since the account came into existence, several social media professionals have attempted to communicate with the account to inform it that they may be operating outside the Twitter TOS. They had their chance to fix it, they failed, and consequently got exactly what was coming to them for breaking the rules.

And before any zealots throw around the BS that I only ever give QF a spirited defense - pretty much all of the commentary related to alleged social media wrongdoing around these parts is majority QF related. If a story related to DJ or another carrier ever surfaces, you better dammed well expect that I'm going to defend to the hilt whomever/whichever party is in the right.

 

[Greggsy]

I cannot speak high enough of @qantasairways on Twitter. Absolute God send.

Anyone who disagrees #Idontcare

Totally agree. These guys are a great help.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[moa999]

I actually followed #QantasPR
and they were moderately funny.

However
- they used the old Qantas logo (albeit still the one on most of the planes!)
- they actually didn't post that often
- unofficial was clearly stated on the description page
- they only had about 3000 followers

Am actually amazed that it took Qantas almost nine months to shut them down.
I suspect if you registered qantaspr.com.au you wouldnt last anywhere near that.

 

[Greggsy]

Seeing Shane Warne annoyed at their tweets was a personal highlight.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app