Facebook Sued by Timelines.comSocial MediaUpdated on Oct 5, 2011 View more like this | Visit FRISCO, TX | Contact CCG & Associates Consulting, LLC. |
On September 30, 2011, Timelines.com filed a trademark infringement suit against Facebook. The company claims that Facebook’s new timeline feature will “destroy its livelihood.” They are seeking an injunction to prevent the launch of Facebook’s new timeline feature, as well as damages.
Timelines.com is a Chicago-based company that provides free online scrap-booking services. On their site users can view and create multimedia timelines for historical events, like charting the course of World War II or the invention and rise of Autotune. The website, which has been operating since 2008, has partnered with other media organizations, such as the Boston Globe, in order to create timelines for sports teams as well.
On paper at least, Facebook’s new timeline feature is remarkably similar to the service offered by Timelines.com. The new function will allow users to add a timeline to their profile page chronicling their life history, complete with photos, music and video. Facebook announced their new timelines feature at an F8 developer conference and was sued shortly thereafter.
Timelines.com already owns the US trademarks for the website name and the term “Timelines.” They argue that if Facebook is allowed to launch its timeline feature it will create confusion among consumers by implying that their site is affiliated with the popular social network, or eliminate the need for Timelines.com altogether. In their court complaint, Timelines.com alleges that Facebook’s use of the term “timelines” infringes upon their trademark. Facebook is also accused of redirecting web traffic from Timelines.com’s Facebook page to their own timeline feature. Despite the lawsuit, sources say Facebook still plans to publicly launch their new feature in the next few days.
For more information on trademarks and copyrights contact, Aurelia Mitchell Durant, Esquire, President, CCG & Associates Consulting, LLC, www.ccgandassociates.com (800)997-1220
By: Burton Shepard, Legal Department,CCG & Associates Consulting, LLC
Timelines.com is a Chicago-based company that provides free online scrap-booking services. On their site users can view and create multimedia timelines for historical events, like charting the course of World War II or the invention and rise of Autotune. The website, which has been operating since 2008, has partnered with other media organizations, such as the Boston Globe, in order to create timelines for sports teams as well.
On paper at least, Facebook’s new timeline feature is remarkably similar to the service offered by Timelines.com. The new function will allow users to add a timeline to their profile page chronicling their life history, complete with photos, music and video. Facebook announced their new timelines feature at an F8 developer conference and was sued shortly thereafter.
Timelines.com already owns the US trademarks for the website name and the term “Timelines.” They argue that if Facebook is allowed to launch its timeline feature it will create confusion among consumers by implying that their site is affiliated with the popular social network, or eliminate the need for Timelines.com altogether. In their court complaint, Timelines.com alleges that Facebook’s use of the term “timelines” infringes upon their trademark. Facebook is also accused of redirecting web traffic from Timelines.com’s Facebook page to their own timeline feature. Despite the lawsuit, sources say Facebook still plans to publicly launch their new feature in the next few days.
For more information on trademarks and copyrights contact, Aurelia Mitchell Durant, Esquire, President, CCG & Associates Consulting, LLC, www.ccgandassociates.com (800)997-1220
By: Burton Shepard, Legal Department,CCG & Associates Consulting, LLC
