Can I implement a feature like hashtagging on my own website?

[ducky]

I have a feature on my website that allows show messages to be broadcast to other users. I want to implement a trending feature like twitter using the hash tag. Would this be a violation of twitters trademarks?

It would seem odd to me if it was because there is a very limited number of characters available to implement this sort of feature.

[ron_mexico]

Hashtags have existed as long as the Internet (see, e.g., IRC). Twitter does not have trademark rights with respect to hashtags.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag