Is There Anything Lamer Than Facebook Threatening Lamebook With Trademark Infringement?

from the lameface dept

Fri, Nov 5th 2010 12:06pm — Mike Masnick

We've noted lately that Facebook has become excessively aggressive when it comes to trademark law and challenging websites that use either "face" or "book" in ways that are somewhat similar. Apparently, one recent target of a cease-and-desist threat was Lamebook.com, one of the more popular of a few websites that post images of silly and ridiculous posts, comments and photos on Facebook. After a series of back and forth conversations, Lamebook has filed suit for a declaratory judgment that it does not infringe on Facebook's rights (found via Eric Goldman). Lamebook points out that what they do is parody and wants the court to declare that what they do does not infringe on the trademark and is protected under the First Amendment. One would hope that a court would agree... but in the meantime it should be stated that Facebook's recent ridiculously over-aggressive trademark claims are extremely lame.

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Filed Under: free speech, lamebook, parody, trademark
Companies: facebook, lamebook

14 Comments

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Jason, 5 Nov 2010 @ 12:08pm

Um....
..that headline? (:
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Hephaestus (profile), 5 Nov 2010 @ 12:09pm

wantw = wants
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Nov 2010 @ 12:19pm

Yeah, there's also Failbook, so look forward to Facebook whining about that too.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Nov 2010 @ 1:12pm

Re:
There is a facebook, is there a legbook? Maybe a buttbook?
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Theoden, 5 Nov 2010 @ 1:33pm

Re:
Buttbook would be the Facebook for copyright and trademark lawyers, if there was any justice on the Net.
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Jon Renaut (profile), 5 Nov 2010 @ 2:29pm

i like this
Love to see the Facebook "like" button on anti-Faceboook posts.
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Aerilus, 5 Nov 2010 @ 7:48pm

This is why i use friendface
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Nov 2010 @ 6:37am

Facebook sucks! Anyone who puts pictures of their family for everyone to see is an idiot. Hey! I want to rob you. All I have to do is go to Facebook and find out how many people are in the house. Read the messages, become a friend and really setup that family. Screw Facebook. The only way to be private on the internet is don't use your real name when you sign up for anything. Duh. Don't put your real name or address anywhere. Don't be stupid. Be an Anonymous Coward.
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DNY (profile), 6 Nov 2010 @ 10:07am

SouthButt
Alas, the SouthButt precedent in which American trademark judges proved the don't know neither the difference between a face and a butt nor the directions of the compass suggests that evil may triumph in this case as well.
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abc gum, 7 Nov 2010 @ 7:19am

Re: SouthButt
I dont think the judge(s) had the opportunity to make any decisions in that regard, as the suit was settled with undisclosed terms. Is there something I missed?
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Ryan Diederich, 7 Nov 2010 @ 5:47pm

This is why I use...
This is why I use Countenance Brochure instead of facebook.

Oh wait, they have been sued too because it is too similar to facebook.

Facebook has become rediculously successful, they shouldnt feel the need to sue everyone they can. No one can beat them.
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Ben, 7 Nov 2010 @ 7:20pm

"Don't put your real name or address anywhere. Don't be stupid. Be an Anonymous Coward."

Or you know, just don't be a complete god damn moron about it?
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Scott, 21 Nov 2010 @ 10:45pm

I just wish that they would start going after all the adult sites that claim to be "The Facebook of Sex"
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Mar 2012 @ 3:37am

FOOTBOALL
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