For the second time, Facebook parent company Meta is being charged with stealing a firm’s name that it had previously used before the social media giant rebranded in 2021.
This time, the accuser is an installation-art business known as MetaX LLC, also known as META or Meta.is, which has filed a trademark infringement complaint to reclaim the name.
By renaming its company to Meta in October of last year, Facebook fully committed to its goals for the metaverse. However, it appears that Mark Zuckerberg either was unaware of the trademark’s prior usage or didn’t care.
This week, it was disclosed that Facebook is the target of a lawsuit by MetaX LLC, a firm whose immersive exhibits have appeared at events like Coachella and leverage technology like augmented and virtual reality.
According to the lawsuit filed by MetaX LLC, the business was established in 2010 and submitted a trademark application in 2016. In 2020, that application was approved.
“On October 28, 2021, Facebook seized our META mark and name, which we put our blood, sweat, and tears into building for over twelve years,” the company writes on its Twitter handle.
According to MetaX, it tried to bargain with Facebook for nearly eight months, but to no avail, leaving it with no choice but to file a lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Facebook committed flagrant acts of unfair competition as well as trademark infringement against META’s federally registered trademarks and common law trademark rights. Additionally, it asserts that Facebook “crushed” its business.
The lawsuit claims that the numerous privacy and other problems that have dogged Facebook for years have prevented the two businesses from using the same brand.
“Consumers are likely to mistakenly believe that Meta’s goods and services emanate from Facebook and that Meta is associated with the toxicity that is inextricably linked with Facebook,” states the filing.
In order to prevent Meta from using the Meta moniker, MetaX is seeking an injunction. Additionally, it demands specific monetary damages.
To read our blog on “A 200-language early-stage AI translation technology that is open-source by Meta,” click here.