This looks like a matter to be addressed by your client's attorney, was the name trademarked?

Read what Twitter says about trademark
and while in Twitter's search mode, search also for copyright infringement, DMCA etc.
[support.twitter.com ]

<edit> Fixed URL </edit>

Yes the clients name is trademarked (for 10 years) and has a functioning website.

Unfortunately support.twitter.com has been down for a couple of hours. Then, when it finally came back up, it now appears that the forms on it dont work!The two potentially relevant ones
[support.twitter.com...]
and
[support.twitter.com...]
both keep giving error message of:
"There was an error preventing ticket submission. Please try again later."

*SO* irritating.

J

Initial feedback from Twitter says:
"The Twitter Rules prohibit accounts that assume one's real identity in order to actively deceive and mislead others. Please note that we don't provide a username reservation service, and accounts without clear content are generally not in violation."

So it sounds like they aren't interested in getting involved in inactive accounts... ?

My claim is that it make us look like we are asleep. Imagine @ibm or @amazon or @apple being totally inactive.

J

I would suggest have a lawyer draft a letter requesting reclamation of your trademark being used on the account, prove you're serious, as they probably get lots of noise from people not all that serious.

I do not think you need a lawyer to get a dormant Twitter account. Try this link [support.twitter.com...]

rocker, thanks for the direct link,
however, it was accessible from the link posted above, leading to thorough info about Twitter's trademark policies.

"claiming a dormant", action/reaction really depends on the trademark infringement potential consequences, if it could result in substantial damages then an attorney should be involved.

For completeness, just to let you guys know that what I did finally worked and we have got use of our own domain name that someone was squatting on without using it.

Please note that although these two forms
[support.twitter.com...]
[support.twitter.com...]
were throwing and error messages, it now appears that they were working (at least I THINK that is how Twitter came to life and responded - by email)

Cheers

J

Congrats! It's nice to hear the system actually works.

I've got a similar problem with someone from Switzerland that uses the same domain name but a dot CH that registered on Twitter years ago, made a single post, then abandoned the account.