Technology @lemmy.world DannyMac @lemmy.world 8mo ago

A software company called Threads says Meta tried to buy its domain and kicked it off Facebook

www.engadget.com A software company called Threads says Meta tried to buy its domain and kicked it off Facebook

A UK-based software company called Threads Software Limited is threatening legal action against Meta over its use of the name Threads.

83 comments

It's a shame how obvious they're working their corporate bullying cards simply because of money. Imagine if I created a product called Google and tried to sue Google for it. That would be ridiculous, right? Well, that's what Facebook is doing, just with money.
- It's not what Facebook is doing. The company has owned the trademark for over a decade, and Facebook is trying to strong arm them into giving it up.
  
  This is also in the UK where they somewhat stand up to companies like Facebook. McDonald's lost their trademark for the Big Mac for trying to do this exact same thing.
  
  Maybe I didn't convey what I'm saying well. Facebook is attempting to take a name because they have money. Laws don't really apply to them, they seem to think, and it's because of their bullying and their money.
  
  Someone should start an alternate DNS root and then auction off facebook.com within their platform.
  
  Also, Wendy's had this issue as well in Europe, but their issue was about their actual company name.
  
  hahaha i didnt know this happened. Supermac FTW!
  
  Eh, the UK isn't in the best situation, in terms of big tech. If anything, most FAANG companies have got away without paying any tax here for over a decade because the alternative is they ship all of their jobs elsewhere, and the UK tech scene implodes.
  
  I think a UK court would likely stand up for the British company, as they should, but I would expect Meta to be allowed to throw their weight around a little.
- Facebook isn’t suing Threads. The longtime trademark holder is suing Facebook.
  
  Right, I know
Didn't they pull the same shit back when they changed the company name to Meta?
- Yeah.
Fuck I wish my old elementary school friends and parents wouldn't use Messenger. I'm eternslly stuck on that platform.
- Does Whatsapp connect to messenger like Instagram does? Not sure it's any better though, since it's still owned by Meta. I wish I could get everyone on signal
  
  No, WhatsApp doesn’t.
  
  Does Signal do end to end encryption? That's why I use telegram.
- i saw one person do something like this: messages JOIN ME ON SIGNAL(or anything not owned by Facebook and amazon) IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WELL WILL LOSE CONTACT SO PLEASE JOIN ME
  
  im not sure on how well this will work but maybe exclude you're family but try to get them to atleast WhatsApp but even better a private messager also consider xmpp/jabber and matrix for jabber i recommend calyx institute jabber server
  
  try to get them to atleast WhatsApp
  
  WhatsApp is also owned by Facebook, so switching to that from Messenger is a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
  
  Telegram or Signal. Whatsapp is owned by Meta
  
  WhatsApp is facebook, it's not an improvement in the slightest
- You can trial out a new platform called beeper.com
  
  It allows you to add all your chats to 1 platform. It's in selected participants mode currently.
  
  Ahh thank you for the Beeper reminder! I'm still on the waitlist tho. :(
- You're not stuck. Just leave, and make people talk to you over Signal. If they're not trying to talk to me on Signal or Matrix, I will never see it. This not only got me off of services like Messenger, but also showed who gave enough of a shit about me to go through Signal's simple setup.
I predict that years will go by and it'll still be called Threads.
- Just like Meta is a stolen name. Facebook doesn’t care.
  
  That's why the UK company is using a cease-and-desist approach, which apparently is an option in the UK.
  
  Absolutely zero care. Too much money gushing in.
Well, since Meta/Facebook will probably be pulling out of the UK along with every other social media company, that’s hardly a “threat”
- You mean, "That's hardly a 'thread?'"
  
  I'll see myself out
  
  You mean, “hold this thread as I walk away” 🎶
  
  Ba-dum-tssss!
- Does that mean we’re in for an influx of br*tish people?
  
  We're already here!
  
  I think you mean Bri*ish
  
  We're already here. We lurk in the shadows.
  
  Probably not. They'll farm the jobs off to Berlin, most likely.
  
  With that said, I'd be shocked if the inevitable UK/US trade deal didn't include some degree of visa. British workers are cheap as fuck, and our service industries already do a lot of cheap labour for US companies that don't want to pay domestic workers.
I wouldn't be surprised if FB/Meta tried to just settle out of court and pay them off.
- "That'll be one billion quid, please."
- They will. This was most likely planned by their legal team in advance, will cost Facebook a negligible amount compared to their revenue and marked as a “risk.” And when they settle it will be a planned business expense, like a fine
  
  What would it have cost Facebook to come up with a different name?
  
  The legal fees alone while it gets dragged out in court will definitely hurt the smaller company.
- The company has said that they've spent a decade building their "brand" under that name. So, if they're pushing for a big payout, they intend it to be gargantuan rather than the usual payoff. Changing their name would essentially be starting over in some ways. And the confusion they claim as their reason for action is a legit thing.
  
  I'm not saying that isn't their goal behind the scenes, but FB tried to buy the name and failed, so I have a feeling they aren't looking for the usual quiet payoff that's the goal of that type of action.
Isn't this just business news?
- It is this is not technology news
Threads isn't even a good name lol
Never download the Meta Threads.
- Delete all meta accounts
ITT:...
...wait why did I just get kicked off facebook.
Eh I don't think they have much of a claim here. Threads is a super common word in software and Facebook can so what they want with their own platform.
- The problem is that the company doing this is in messaging. It isn't a direct competitor, but it's a legit proposition, as per the analysis lawyers have made. It's big enough news that the usual outlets have chimed in, and the gist has been that a suit would have standing

83 comments