NEWS | Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Facebook sues German competitor

Facebook, the social networking internet portal enjoying 125 million daily unique visits worldwide, has decided to sue a Berlin-based website, Studivz, as it is being alleged that the German counterpart copyied Facebook’s look, feel, features and services.
Studivz, an abbreviation of a German expression for “students directory”, has said the claim is without merit, adding that the suit comes only as a result of Facebook’s inability to transpose its worldwide success to the German market.
There are currently about 10 million members on Studivz, mostly hailing from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The compensation Facebook is seeking will be quantified at the trial.
“As with any counterfeit product, Studivz’s uncontrolled quality standards for service, features and privacy negatively impact the genuine article,” said Facebook’s complaint.
While Facebook filed its suit in a Californian court, on its part, Studivz has filed for a judgment at the District Court in Stuttgart in order to prove that such claims are without merit.
Meanwhile, Facebook is working on launching a new look to reduce clutter and make information easier to find. Its main rival, MySpace, is expected to follow suit.