Comments on: My official statement on the @leolaporte ThisWeekIn.com controversy. #twit #twist #twi

By: Will

Will — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:40:54 +0000

@BongBong, shhh.

Just bought ThisWeekinHoodlums.com

By: BongBong

BongBong — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:23:34 +0000

Here’s a suggestion to all domainers— buy up every possible topic beginning with “thisweekin—-” and “—–answers”and sell them to Weblogs, Part II in 4 or 5 years.

By: BongBong

BongBong — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:49:52 +0000

Not to beat a dead horse, but…

Jason has now registered “www.twitquestions.com”.

You really take the cake Jason. Stealing Leo’s livelihood like a bandit. Nice, man. Real dick move.

By: BongBong

BongBong — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:40:58 +0000

This is the web we’re talking about. Jason realized that the “root word” of Leo’s show was as impotant as the full word, it’s a smart, dirty trick by a guy who should never have been given an open door by Leo. Kids, let this be a lesson to you. Never trust Jason Calacanis.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:08:54 +0000

Jason I although you’re obviously very succesful, I also get the impression that your are a guy that has some deep-seated integrity.

Whether or not Leo gave his blessing surely you can see this is just not right? My recollection is that you asked Leo for permission on a live show. This is a very high pressure way to ask someone to make a decision that could have a profound impact on their business in the future.

I would like to hear podcasts from you, but you seriously need to think about re-branding before spending any more cash.

I agree with a previous poster though in that I think Leo is doing far too many podcasts himself now. Since starting Twit Live the quality has certainly steadily fallen, and shows such as Twit and Macbreak Weekly are shadows of their former selves.

By: bud

bud — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:04:03 +0000

Leo was fine with This week in Startups, because that was a show that you would definitely be
better to handle. It is merely that he didn’t realize or think that your grabbing a domain name
of ThisWeekIn.com would result in your pouring of resources into “This week in EVERYTHING
ELSE under the sun”, since you hop on buying domain names like other people eat tic tacs.

You should just give him the domain name, offer to help expand and provide content for TWIT
TV the way that Quinn Martin productions did for the old broadcast networks. Or move on
without stepping on his toes so. He doesn’t need another g4 in his life, and you should be more
of a mensch.

By: martymankins

martymankins — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:59:43 +0000

I’m mixed on this one. While I understand Leo gave permission to use the name, I think that maybe he wasn’t thinking it would turn into an entire network of This Week In shows. That’s my best guess as to why he feels jilted in this.

I hope you two can work this out, because if you can, it’s best for the tech community. If not, then there needs to be an olive branch and a slightly reworking of the branding in order to keep both you and Leo in good terms for the long haul.

By: Specie8470

Specie8470 — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:56:56 +0000

I am with you 100% Jason you asked Leo if you could use the Name this Week in for shows your are doing and he said ok. Leo has all of four shows that have This Week in something as a name. Most of Leo’s shows arn’t even named This Week in. I think what Leo is doing is very upsetting considering you asked him for permission and he doesn’t even have the name trademarked or anything. I think Leo is upset that an advertiser was confused with you and Leo and that you started an IPad show before Leo was going to. I tried to get Leo to talk to you about it like adults but obviously thats not going to happen anytime soon. You did everything right Jason Leo only has four shows with the name This Week in… its not like all of his shows are called that.

By: Turk

Turk — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:24:04 +0000

I have to side with Leo on this one. Jason, why would you spend 6 figures on a name you knew you were taking from Leo.
I’m sorry, but don’t cry the money blues when you knew you were encroaching on Leo’s territory.
Leo offered clearly because he was open to “podcasting’s” growth in the market. You are now taking advantage of the situation. Good luck, but you’ve lost a listener.

By: Jeff Weber

Jeff Weber — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:06:36 +0000

I have to side with Leo on this.

Jason, it seems Leo gave you an inch and you are taking a mile.

I think you could have a successful network with diff. name.

A while back you were railing on Mark Zuckerberg for “stealing” ideas. Granted you may not have been quite so blatant about it, but the end result is not far from the same.

Hope you guys work things out because I enjoy listening to both of you.

-Jeff