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Facebook sues, Thinks it owns the word "Book"

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In case you are not familiar with the story, Facebook is suing a company called Teachbook, which operates a social networking site for teachers, apparently because it's "book" in its name and "competes" with Facebook. Teachbook is described as "a professional community for teachers".

"We were unaware the Facebook owned the Net or the term 'book,'" Teachbook Managing Partner Greg Shrader says "We think that they are wrong on the merits of their case, because the United States Patent and Trademark Office approve our trademark application for Teachbook and informed us that 'book' is a generic term which cannot be trademarked. They think this is why they chosen to file a suit in federal court and take their opposition out of the trademark office. They basically cannot win on the merits of their trademark objection."

"Teachbook is a suite of productivity tools for teachers," Shrader explains. "It allows teachers to design and share lesson designs, instructional videos, online courses. It also allows teachers to keep online gradebooks, communicate with parents, and share ideas with one another."

"In short it is designed to permit teachers to improve teaching and learning in the classroom," they continues. "We don't know why Facebook or Mark Zuckerberg need to get in the way of that."

"And they don't think that potential Facebook users who are looking to share pics and socialize with their elderly high school buddies could be confused by a site designed for teachers," they concludes.

Based on the responses we have gotten from our earlier article on the subject, it would appear that the general public (for the most part) agrees. What do you think? Comment here

Also, read some comments below.

Teachers and Books
Seems like Teachers' use of the term "book" in a domain certainly makes more sense than any claim facebook has. What could be more valid and natural than teachers and books?

By Random Guest Fri, 08/27/2010 - 20:42
Sue me?!
Don't sue me, I'm just excising my human right of free speech and freedom of expression, I'm not inn it to help teachers help children, or the "tell me what your interested in, and I'll sell you what you want"

Just passing time

By Random Guest - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 07:43
Teachbook vs. Book
Two Faced - The arrogance of a company that is claiming to protect their rights and integrity when the success of their whole business is based on deceit, lies and manipulation.

What about the rights of the internet user who gets continuously spammed by faceb..k through the farce of its members who are forced to do so on faceb..k's behalf in the name of creating 'friends'

When the spammed recipient eventually responds they are forced to become a faceb..k member to continue. This new member now responds back to the 'friend' and is notified that the message can not be sent because the recipient finds it offensive. Firstly how can they find the message offensive when they have not received it yet? A blatant lie! It’s then discovered that the offensive language is the new member’s website address stated in the message.

Now the new member decides that they no longer want to be part of this manipulating BS and they request that their account be permanently deleted from faceb..k and are informed that it takes two weeks. Two weeks later it has not been removed. After many request (8 months later) it still has not been removed! So any membership number claims from faceb..k is pure BS

ANYONE who conducts business in this way, in my view, has no rights at all and should be banned.

Hi , Please don't sue me I did not use your word 'b..k'

Fri, 08/27/2010 - 03:34
TeachBook Vs FaceBook
I think Facebook is the biggest waste of time ever created, I the case of teach book an online product that helps the education system I think its brilliant and can help grow a stable community.

In the case of facebook, the world is fast becoming more dependant on online communities forums and things like facebook that allow people to share photos and events and the feelings how they day is going, What happen to talking to a person face to face.

People need to wake up and start going outside to see what a beautiful world we live in.

Random Guest - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 04:43
You're 100% right, few
You're 100% right, few months ago we were talking how facebook put all in prison blocking them from doing something useful, and when the time came that someone did something good & useful, guess who stood in the way facebook!

I cannot believe it! my boss at work who is the second man after the CEO was so angry when I gave orders to block the facebook in the company, my wife stays late at night surfing facebook, that day I was shocked when an old relative just came to visit us from abroad asked us if he can collect his farm vegetables, I thought the old man is loosing focus, so he asked for the internet when I just knew there was a game called Farm in facebook which the only aim for it is keeping you stucked...

This is going too far my friends...

Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 23:07
facebook sues teachbook
How arrogant can big US corporations get? I think that we should all close our facebook accounts in protest. By the way, the US patent office is not absolved of all guilt either. They have a long history of allowing people to patent and trademark common knowledge.

Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 20:42
Facebook's comment
The problem is not merely that they use the word “book.” You’ll notice that we have no complaint against Kelly Blue Book or Yellowbook or others. However, there is already a well-known online service with “book” in the brand name that helps people connect and share. Of course the Teachbook folks are free to create a similar service for teachers or whomever they like, and we wish them well in that endeavor. What they are not free to do is trade on our name, create confusion, or dilute our brand while doing so. Additionally, it’s important to note that where there is confusion or brand dilution as there is with Teachbook and Facebook, we must enforce our rights to protect the integrity of our trademark. I encourage you to consult a trademark expert about this last point or any of it for that matter.


Sun, 08/29/2010 - 08:08
You're absolutely right
Kelly Blue Book and Yellowbook should sue YOU. Especially since they've been around FAR longer than your ridiculous time-waster site.

Way to waste OUR tax payer dollars by having to defend our teachers in court.


Thank you for clearly showing us what a complete a$$hole and moron you are, .

Perhaps we should start a BOYCOTT FACEB**K movement? Think of all the advertising $$$ they'll lose. Hitting 'em right in the wallet works every time Smile

Fri, 08/27/2010 - 20:32
You don't need to be a judge to judge against your argument, ask yourself the question: 'what would a reasonable man say?', NOT 'what would a corporate money hungry web business, who wants to collect data about everyone so that they can sell ads to them, say!?'

The funny thing is , a reasonable person would also say that Facebook diluted YellowBook to the detriment of the latter... Perhaps it is Facebook who should sued after all

Monkeys in suits, hay, monkeys in suits

By Random Guest - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 09:09
Similar Service
Mr. Schmitt,

I wasn't aware that Facebook had applications for grade-score keeping, databases of pupil information and course study, databases of teaching materials, and the like. It seems a bit of a stretch for you to claim that Facebook provides a "similar service" to that of TeachBook.

I learned of this issue through which I receive because I do web design and brand marketing. I also have a fairly well-rounded legal education, although I've opted not to be lawyer. You're going to have to formulate your argument better to show that the use of "book" dilutes your brand name. Yellowbook has existed long before Facebook--both online and in print, yet they have not sued you for diluting their brand.

Teachbook's existence isn't going to reduce the number of facebook pages in existence, even if it were a competing social network--which it isn't. And if Yellowbook doesn't dilute the Facebook brand with its connecting of people together, how can you argue that a professional niche network like Teachbook would? I don't know of anyone who would be confused, and few folks outside of the teaching profession would even be aware of Teachbook's existence. Facebook reigns supreme in recognition for being what it is. Yellowbook also retains its well-known brand recognition, and has not been damaged from Facebook's cheeky use of "book". Show me the damage?

What I think I am hearing Facebook claim is that any network service, whether it be professional or social, that uses the word "book" in its name causes damage to Facebook's brand. I believe a judge with a rudimentary level of reasoning "faculties" will rule that your claim is not only a reach but that one would need a time-collapsing wormhole to reach that conclusion.

Good luck with suing, and I hope all the lawyers enjoy the profits they extract from Facebook's silliness.

"Best",

Random Guest - Sat, 08/28/2010 - 12:57
FACEBOOK thinks it owns the world
I would like to know who you are please ?
I have some things I have come to realize

Please tell if you know teach book
It appears you want to help them I say it sounds good
GET BACK ASAP

By Random Guest - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 01:48
"book" is not your name, "Facebook" is.
, I started reading your comment with great interest. But I was completely put off when I read "they are not free to do is trade on our name, create confusion, or dilute our brand while doing so". Seriously speaking "book" is not your name. The word "book" was there before Facebook came into being and it will surely still be there after Facebook. After all the use of "book" makes more sense in the case of "Teachbook" than in your case because teachers and students are heavily linked with books.

By Random Guest - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 02:36
Hmmm...
I think I know what is referring to. Teachbook sounds like Facebook. They might have a case after all.

By Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 22:54
Fork Orf
WHILST Facebook are big and powerful they do not own the rights to common words or phrases in the English language and they should be told in no uncertain terms by the courts to fxxx off and stop being a litigious bunch of pricks.

By Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 22:52
Are you serious Schnitt?
I was led to believe that Facebooks Mission Statement was "To give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected." But apparently in their view of the world are the unwritten words "..but only on our platform"

Schitt Director, Policy Communications says "..we must enforce our rights to protect the integrity of our trademark. I encourage you to consult a trademark expert about this last point or any of it for that matter..." and I agree with that as an overarching concept.

Shit then goes on to say "..where there is confusion or brand dilution as there is with Teachbook and Facebook.."

Are you for real ? The only confusion out there in the marketplace is why you bozo's would even think that anyone would be confused about what Facebook is and what Teachbook is.

Maybe you can break through the confusion and enlighten us all as to exactly where on Facebook we can find the URLs that will do any of the following things. And please be specific with the URL's that Facebook owns that you claim Teachbook is creating "..confusion or brand dilution.."

When you join Teachbook, you can:

* Manage your professional profile and all information in your account by choosing to share with administrators, colleagues, parents or public

* Create and search lesson plans, instructional videos, and other teaching resources

* Manage your classroom communications with secure parent-teacher communication tools, such as a gradebook, events calendar, classroom newsletter, and homework space

* Communicate and connect with colleagues though discussion, chat, blogs, and more

* Gain new teaching knowledge and insights from like-minded professionals in groups

* Create and manage online courses and instructional modules

* Enable teachers to manage their student grades by recording, calculating, and sharing them in a secure online Gradebook.

Thu, 08/26/2010 - 23:00
Teachbook
Teachers are not allowed to use Facebook for professional interaction so why would they consider it a facebook dilution? How do I know? I know quite a few teachers.

By Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 22:14
RE:
Thank you for commenting with Facebook's side.

By Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 18:22
See...
This lawsuit against Teachbook is like arguing with a woman, you'll lose no matter what. What I mean is that Facebook's Mark is really stupid for attacking a site for teachers. They are going to lose in the court of public opinion which is worse than Federal court. I can see people saying, Facebook is against education of our children and shit like that. If I were Facebook's Mark, I'll look at her straight in the eyes, back up slowly, turn around and run.

Thu, 08/26/2010 - 18:32
Like this one.
Here, just like this one:

By Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 17:26
filed its trademark
filed its trademark infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Jose last week, asserting that the "book" part of its name is "highly distinctive in the context of online communities and networking websites."

How about reading some more, I can see all info needed above.. cant you?.
PS: You will also find this info in the lawsuit PDF file that is open for anyone to view.

Thu, 08/26/2010 - 17:02
facebook sues teachbook
From what I can tell, this is PR stunt by someone that has an interested in teachbook. First, facebook wouldn't sue. They would send a letter to teachbook claiming copy right infringement. The word book is too broad of a term for anyone to claim copy right infringement. The only way they can claim copy right infringement is if the name was something like FACEBOOKS.com. Second, I look into to teachbook.com and it looks like they don't get to many visitors to their website, But they are trying to get visitors with this article. Third, there is no mention of where the law suit was filed. So, if someone wanted to see if this law suit is real, they can't because they wouldn't know who to call.

I could poke more holes in this story very easily, but I will quit, while I am ahead. Also, if webpronews.com keeps posting stories like this then I will unsubscribe.

Thu, 08/26/2010 - 17:22
RE:
The document is here. While we haven't received comment from Facebook yet, the company has already acknowledged it. Poke away.

Thu, 08/26/2010 - 18:07
Where, did you learn to
Where, did you learn to write? Those facts should have been in the original article or at the very least, links to any facts should have been at the bottom article.

By Will - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 05:15
Defensive?
Where did you learn to read?

The facts were in the original article, just not the exact details. If you truly want to 'poke holes ' in something don’t' just sit there and go "oh where's the proof GIVE IT TO ME". You could easily have found this yourself, or taken it as read that had checked their sources.

Not that you should always assume that but basically, don't whine that you don't trust a story if you're too lazy to do basic checking of publicly available facts - and definitely don't whine that it’s someone else’s fault that your baseless assumption was proven wrong.

By Random Guest - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 18:27
Guys what's the issue here?
Guys what's the issue here? The documents are there for you to see! The lawsuit is as real as a heart attack! The original article being referenced to by Chris had the links too.

By Random Guest - Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:57
Facebook used the word integrity
I cannot see that Facebook HAS any integrity to speak of.

Also, I have to keep deleting spam from Facebook at work. you are filling my inbox with junk. I think you'd better stop before the Feds notice!

Also we have noticed spam from an outfit that calls itself f...book. Now that sounds much close to facebook, so why not sue them? Going after teachers instead? Makes no sense.
Attitude
As a victim of Facebook fake pages (defamatory pages impersonating me and using pictures of me and using my real name) I have no sympathy at all for Facebook.

Facebook fail to remove such fake profiles, yet they lay claim to the word 'book'? and want to lay claim to the word 'face'? It's almost as ...
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