Comments on: Facebook Stomps on Us…

By: leebyy

leebyy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:10:32 +0000

I say engage the Winklevoss twins to join you in your fight to keep your name. They fought Zuck and walked with 65 million. I would assume that if facebook wants the domain they will pay you for it and pay a lot, otherwise they are just bullying you and I would believe any judge would throw that case out.

By: IP Osgoode » Facebook: Trials & Tribulations

IP Osgoode » Facebook: Trials & Tribulations — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:42:44 +0000

[...] has cited a lack of resources as its rationale for avoiding a legal confrontation. It elected to change its name to “TripTrace,” despite believing it might have had a better shot at winning a suit than [...]

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:21:05 +0000

I’m with Justice McCay. Don’t give up your dreams, your ideas (and i emphasize ‘your’), or your company’s goals because some big shot comes into town. The greatest of people in this world had balls. facebook had balls when they needed them and it drove their company to success. This legal ‘battle’ may give you more positive exposure than you could pay for.

By: Facebook Throws the Book at Teachbook | Trademarks and Brands

Facebook Throws the Book at Teachbook | Trademarks and Brands — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:52:10 +0000

[...] isn’t focusing its trademark sights solely on social networking companies. The company recently demanded that a travel site rename itself from Placebook. And TechCrunch reported that Facebook has filed a trademark application for FACE—check out a [...]

By: Rubin

Rubin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:23:11 +0000

I agree that it’s a great name for what we’re delivering; most legal advice is that it would have been a debate among lawyers, not a slam dunk that we’d prevail. But regardless, as a start-up we have very limited resources and attention and my job is to keep us focused on the big picture – the fact is that we will succeed or fail based on our product, not our name at this point. It was a judgment call. But it was increasingly distracting.

Anyway, we still own http://www.placebook.com (and http://www.placebook.it), and while we changed our name, we made no agreement with Facebook. If it makes you feel better, I just postponed the problem until a later point when we’re funded and people love our website.
Thanks for your input….

By: Justice McCay

Justice McCay — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:45:20 +0000

Wow, I think you were an idiot to give up Placebook.com – that’s a GREAT name for a travel site to book your flights, etc.

Facebook wouldn’t have won. You gave into persuasion from a team of people, not attorneys, I know that. You just saw how big Facebook was and didn’t think you’d have a chance in the justice system huh? Say you lost, you would have had 45 days to appeal. You could have got major exposure and support by having the media cover it too. Facebook is trying to monopolize a dictionary word, which is illegal (you can’t trademark BOOK).

By: Rubin

Rubin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:39:58 +0000

It really depends on what your company does. If you had a bricks n’ mortar retail store, i’d say don’t worry about it. If you have a website that is totally non social, you might be okay, but one never knows – it depends on your name a little. If you want to avoid this entirely, just change your name. I’m obligated to suggest you consult a professional…

or just ask in public…. I’ll have an opinion as will many…

By: Bruce Hawtin

Bruce Hawtin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:45:00 +0000

This seems wrong.

I am the CEO of a small internet start-up with “book” as the suffix. After reading your blog I am contemplating changing the name. Even though the site, which should launch mid September, has no social networking features. I certainly do not have the budget to even investigate the ligitimacyof fighting a company like Facebook.

Any thoughts?

By: Facebook reclama l’esclusiva del suffisso -book | Diritto&Internet

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:54:02 +0000

[...] comunque travalicare il confine dei soli social network. Pare infatti che Facebook abbia anche minacciato di prendere le vie legali contro un blog di viaggi – Placebook – che ha poi [...]

By: Teachbook Vows Facebook Trademark Suit Fight | MostTalkedNews.com

Teachbook Vows Facebook Trademark Suit Fight | MostTalkedNews.com — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:06:29 +0000

[...] Facebook doesn’t seem to be focused solely on social-networking sites, either. It leveraged its financial weight earlier this month to demand an upstart travel site to rename itself from Pricebook. [...]