Twitter forced to cough raw feed after PeopleBrowsr wins temporary order

Twitter was slapped with a temporary restraining order yesterday, preventing it from terminating a tweets-for-cash contract it has with the data analysis company PeopleBrowsr. Twitter wanted to end the million-dollar-a-year contract tomorrow, 30 November, but a judge in the Superior Court of the State of California court has …

[ratfox]

Why?

Why would twitter limit its data to a handful of resellers? Do they get more for exclusivity? Surely it is their own interest that the market for their own data be as transparent as possible…?

[Benny]

So the lesson here would be not to base your entire business upon someone elses data.

At the end of the day, it's Twitter data, that is generated by Twitters users, you can't really complain if they then decide to change THEIR business model, and you are stuck because you didn't think that those nice people at Twitter would ever end your cosy agreement.

Saying "But I was here first!" doesn't really mean a great deal TBH

[Callam McMillan]

Contract

Based on the article it looks like there is a contract between PeopleBrowser and Twitter, and it looks like Twitter wants to unilaterally change the contract. If that's the case then I can see how PeopleBrowser would be a bit miffed. If however the contract is coming to the end of its term, then it sounds awfully like sour grapes.

[Eugene Goodrich]

Guarantees and contracts

[[ At the end of the day, it's Twitter data, that is generated by Twitters users, you can't really complain if they then decide to change THEIR business model, and you are stuck because you didn't think that those nice people at Twitter would ever end your cosy agreement. ]]

Sure, unless Twitter made some guarantees at some point. Like, maybe, if they said "our data will always be free and open. Always." Or somesuch.

[frank ly]

Corrections/Improvements

"A little bird has ejected us from its 'warm spot', ..."; "..the raw twitter feed of more than 400 million tweets a day"

The words 'cloaca' and 'guano' would be useful here.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Corrections/Improvements

If only I could upvote this again!

[JDX]

Firehose?

Goldenshower more like.

[TeeCee]

Re: Firehose?

Last time this one came up, I suggested "sewer".

I believe that is the correct term for a big pipe full of crap.

[John Tserkezis]

Everyone hail Jodee Rich.

For he's moved on from illegally ripping off money, to *legally* ripping off money.

[MachDiamond]

Contract? Big deal.

Yes, if Twitter has a contract with peoplebrowser, they should have to keep up their end until the contract expires. The courts should not be able to "Order" a company to do business with some entity if there isn't a contract in place.

I find the -Those contracting partners include the US Department of Defense who has a $3m three-year deal with PeopleBrowsr to provide analytics and information on Twitter users.- to be much more ominous.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Contract? Big deal.

Bet they expect twitter to carry on supporting Itanium chips too....no wait.....

[Chad H.]

CEO Jodee Rich???

Well at least they have the right CEO is the company goes bust... See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One.Tel