A few weeks ago I wrote a post pleading for Twitter to release dormant usernames. The astute amongst you may have noticed that I now have my real name as my Twitter username @SeanClark.

Thanks to a suggestion in a comment by @SeeBiz, Twitter transferred ownership of @SeanClark over to me in a matter of weeks.

A Simple Process

Under Twitter’s Policy Information there is a section on Inactive Accounts but at this time there is no way to claim a username from an inactive account. As you would expect Trademarks are protected, but you can also claim against impersonation.

Stop Impersonating Me

As the Twitter username that was inactive matched my real name exactly I completed the Impersonation Form. I also explained that the user in question had not used the dormant account for nearly 3 years, on the form.

To my surprise the username was released within 2 weeks. Twitter even seamlessly migrated my old account, @seanEclark, to my new one, @SeanClark, on my behalf.

I may have been helped by the fact I also own the domain SeanClark.com, and was able to include an email address at that domain.

No Guarantees

Of course this method is not foolproof. Following my success I told fellow blogger Fadra Nally, @allthingsfadra, knowing she also wanted to claim her name; unfortunately she was not successful.

If you have been waiting on Twitter to release a dormant username, the impersonation clause may work for you.