Following on from the introduction of its new Facebook Timeline feature late last month, a Chicago company called Timelines.com has claimed that the new Facebook Timeline service will threaten their business and possibly force them to close. Consequently, they have now engaged in legal proceedings against Facebook.
However, Judge Edmond Chang has refused to grant Timelines.com a temporary restraining order on Facebook and declined to stop Facebook users from signing up for the new feature through Facebook’s developer program. This program has already seen nearly 1.1 million Facebook users sign up for the new feature, with 100,000 to 200,000 more signing on every day.
The Legal Battle Over Facebook Timeline
Timelines.com argues that the launch of the new Facebook Timeline feature could “eliminate” their business. They claim that the similarity in names and functionalities could confuse users and divert traffic away from their site. Timelines.com is a website that allows users to create and share historical timelines, and they believe that Facebook’s new feature could overshadow their services entirely.
Judge Edmond Chang noted that Facebook has pledged not to broadly launch the feature before the parties appear in court again on Tuesday. This temporary hold provides a brief respite for Timelines.com, allowing them to present their case more comprehensively. The judge’s decision to not grant the restraining order indicates that the court requires more substantial evidence to justify halting Facebook’s rollout of the Timeline feature.
Implications for Facebook and Timelines.com
The implications of this legal battle are significant for both parties. For Facebook, the Timeline feature represents a major overhaul of user profiles, aiming to make it easier for users to share their life stories and experiences in a visually engaging way. The feature was widely expected to go live this weekend, but it is now on hold until at least tomorrow when the parties will meet again to discuss their positions.
For Timelines.com, the stakes are incredibly high. The company fears that Facebook’s massive user base and brand recognition could render their service obsolete. If users begin to associate the term “timeline” exclusively with Facebook, Timelines.com could see a drastic reduction in traffic and user engagement. This could potentially lead to the company’s closure, which is why they are fighting so hard to protect their business.
The outcome of this legal dispute could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. If Timelines.com succeeds, it could encourage other small businesses to take legal action against larger corporations that introduce competing features. On the other hand, if Facebook prevails, it could signal to other tech giants that they can introduce new features without fear of significant legal repercussions from smaller competitors.
The legal proceedings between Timelines.com and Facebook over the new Timeline feature are a critical moment for both companies. The court’s decision will not only impact the future of Timelines.com but could also influence how tech companies approach the development and introduction of new features in the future. As the parties prepare to meet again in court, the tech world watches closely, understanding that the outcome could have far-reaching implications.
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