Meta, the artist formerly known as Facebook, has been hit with a trademark lawsuit by another company called Meta.
Meta Platforms (Facebook) is officially being sued by MetaX LLC, a VR company that has been known as Meta since 2010 - long before Facebook rebranded in 2021. Worse still, it appears MetaX actually had talks with Facebook in 2017 over potentially working together, implying that Zuckerberg's company was aware the name was already taken.
MetaX boasts that it deals in the "Art of Being There", which presumably means something to the overpaid marketing arsehole that spent all day congratulating themselves for having come up with it. The company has worked under the name MetaX since 2010, working on immersive VR experiences that "engage audiences for the world's leading Artists, Brands, and Productions."
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The company reportedly told Manhattan federal court (via Reuters) that its "ability to operate as Meta has been eviscerated" since Facebook took the name. MetaX added that it felt it has been "crushed by Facebook’s flagrant, unlawful conduct" and demands an immediate cease and desist so it can get back to being the One True Meta.
In a separate, public statement, MetaX writes: "On October 28, 2021, Facebook seized our Meta mark and name, which we put our blood, sweat, and tears into building for over twelve years.
"Today, we take a stand for the future of our industry—to ensure that intellectual property rights are recognized, protected, and respected."
It adds that MetaX and Meta Platforms had been attempting to reach an agreement behind closed doors, but that "Facebook's unreasonableness and arrogance, has forced Meta to commence this action to vindicate its rights".
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"This case is about Facebook taking accountability for its actions," the statement concludes. "And committing to move forward ethically and equitably in the revolutionary industry that we have all, together, created."
Last year another company using the Meta name also came forward and revealed it wanted a piece of Zuckerberg's money. It looks like we might be heading straight into a Meta battle royale, folks.
Topics: World News