Facebook users starting Saturday will get the chance to add a nickname of their choice to the web address of their profiles. These new usernames, which will make Facebook addresses easier to find and easier to remember, are being assigned on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on 13 June. But as enthusiasts of the highly popular social networking site dreamed of www.facebook.com/rico, /meggiesue, or perhaps /pizza, trademark owners wondered what might happen to /microsoft, /audi or perhaps /wipo. In answer, Facebook is allowing those with registered trademarks to reserve them in advance to prevent others from taking the potentially coveted spots.
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Funny why Facebook set a limit of minimum 5 letters for the new Facebook usernames. Does anyone know why this is the limit?
At least at first it leaves companies/trademarks like LEGO, Nike, Ipod, Coke etc. etc. with no worries. They can´t reserve them, but no other users can register them either.
Anyway, the reservation period is now over…..am I correct that the reservation period started Friday and ended on a Sunday? ;-))
Dear Jakob,
Thanks for your comment. As far as I know, the reservation period is not over. There was no end-date posted on Facebook, and facebook.com/username appears to still be functioning for logged-in users. Perhaps what you are thinking of is the second start date? On Sunday 28 June, new Facebook users (i.e. those who signed up to the service after the possibility of having a username was officially announced) can begin signing up for a username. Facebook has said the delay was to prevent people from signing up for an account just to reserve a particular username.