Lawyers for Dfinity Foundation, a Switzerland-based nonprofit behind the Internet Computer blockchain, have filed a lawsuit against Facebook’s dad or mum firm Meta for trademark infringement over its infinity logo.
In a Friday courtroom submitting with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Dfinity’s authorized group claimed Meta Platforms was registering use of its logo, which additionally makes use of the mathematical image for the idea of infinity, “in some of the same or similar areas in which Dfinity has already obtained registration for its mark.” According to the blockchain agency, Meta filed an utility with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, in March 2022, whereas the identical workplace granted Dfinity registration in October 2018. Dfinity’s authorized group additionally mentioned the corporate had been utilizing the infinity image on its web site since March 2017.
While many specialists credit score mathematician John Wallis with first utilizing the “loopy” image to characterize the idea of infinity within the seventeenth century, the design might return centuries previous to that utilization. Dfinity’s lawsuit gave the impression to be primarily based not on Meta’s logo utilizing the infinity image itself, however somewhat registering a trademark to be used in fields providing comparable items and providers, together with laptop software program incorporating blockchain expertise.
“Meta and Dfinity seek to attract the same users, namely those who are looking for an innovative and different internet experience, created by users, for users,” mentioned the lawsuit, including:
“Further, both Meta and Dfinity utilize the same marketing channels such that consumers will likely encounter the marks through those same channels […] Despite knowledge of Dfinity’s mark, Meta chose to proceed with its application to obtain registration in some of the same or similar areas in which Dfinity has already obtained registration for its mark.”
Meta Platforms (Facebook) is being sued over its logo.
A Swiss non-profit that develops blockchain expertise (Dfinity), has filed a lawsuit claiming that Meta’s new logo is simply too just like its personal.
Apparently, an infinity logo is all the fashion in Web3.#meta #Facebook #Web3 pic.twitter.com/4Ay4a12uKy
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) May 2, 2022
Dfinity’s authorized group continued:
“The similarities between Meta’s mark and Dfinity’s mark, and Meta’s intended use of its mark in the same space and through the same customer base as Dfinity, will cause confusion because consumers will mistakenly believe that Meta and its services are connected with, sponsored by, affiliated with, or related to Dfinity, or that Dfinity and its services are connected with, sponsored by, affiliated with or related to Meta.”
According to Dfinity, Meta “knowingly infringed” upon the corporate’s trademark primarily based on its registration with the USPTO and exhibited “willful and wanton disregard of Dfinity’s established and superior rights.” The attorneys claimed that confusion round the same logos had already brought on Dfinity to lose income, and the agency will proceed to take action in addition to doubtlessly undergo “reputational harm” whereas the alleged discrepancy stays.
“Dfinity has suffered, and will continue to suffer, irreparable injury as a result of Meta’s unlawful action and has no adequate remedy at law,” mentioned the lawsuit. “Unlike Facebook’s (now Meta) centralized, closed system, Dfinity’s focus is on decentralization and interoperability. Any association between Dfinity and Meta would cause consumers, including users and developers, to question Dfinity’s core mission.”
Dfinity’s authorized group has requested aid within the type of attorneys’ charges primarily based on Meta’s alleged trademark infringement and “false designation of origin.” In addition, the agency requested for punitive damages surrounding the potential confusion “as to the source, origin, sponsorship, and association” of Meta’s services and products. The blockchain agency has requested a trial by jury.
Related: ‘Wave of litigation’ to hit NFT area as copyright points abound
Legal points associated to copyrights and logos have cropped up within the crypto area since its creation in 2008. In June 2020, somebody anonymously registered the Bitcoin (BTC) identify and logo with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office claiming they wished to “protect Bitcoin.” A authorized group representing quick meals chain Jack within the Box additionally filed a lawsuit against FTX US in November 2021 primarily based on alleged similarities between its “Jack” character and the crypto trade’s “Moon Man.”
