Facebook accused of violating advertising patents by Yahoo
Yahoo Sues Facebook for Patent Infringement and Harley-Davidson Takes Legal Action Against Affliction
In two separate legal battles, tech giants Yahoo and Harley-Davidson have taken action against companies accused of trademark and patent infringement.
Yahoo vs. Facebook
The 2012 patent infringement lawsuit filed by Yahoo against Facebook primarily involves internet advertising methods, click validation, and privacy settings related to how Facebook managed online ads and user interactions on its platform. Yahoo alleged that Facebook infringed on patents covering technologies for validating clicks on ads to ensure they were genuine and methods for configuring and enforcing user privacy settings in the context of online advertising.
Specifically, Yahoo claimed Facebook used patented techniques tied to the sale, display, and tracking of online ads. These methods include how ads are targeted to users based on their data and behavior. The lawsuit also addressed Facebook’s control over privacy options related to advertising, likely addressing how users’ data was handled or restricted in showing relevant ads while respecting user privacy preferences.
Facebook is accused of infringing over 10 of Yahoo's patents for Internet advertising methods. The lawsuit reflects the competitive and complex intellectual property environment as companies seek to protect innovations in ad delivery and privacy management on the internet.
Harley-Davidson vs. Affliction
Harley-Davidson filed a lawsuit against Affliction for trademark infringement, alleging that Affliction is selling t-shirts and other items which bear images that closely resemble the Harley bar-and-shield logo. The lawsuit does not involve social media platforms such as Messenger, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, Whatsapp, or Email.
Implications and Developments
In the Yahoo-Facebook case, a federal judge ruled that Facebook may owe users $750 each, under California Civil Code § 3344, for knowingly using their name, picture, or likeness to advertise products or services. The class action, Fraley v. Facebook, was refused to be dismissed by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh on December 16, 2011.
Wikipedia will blackout the English language version of itself on 18 January 2012 to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). If SOPA and PIPA become law, they would make it easier for copyright holders to protect their rights online against pirating.
It remains to be seen how these lawsuits will unfold and what impact they will have on the tech industry. As companies continue to innovate and push the boundaries of technology, legal disputes over intellectual property and trademark infringement are likely to persist.
- In the escalating tech industry, Yahoo's lawsuit against Facebook highlights the financial and legal consequences faced by companies that infringe on patents covering internet advertising methods, such as user data management and targeted advertising, raising questions about the boundaries of innovation and intellectual property rights.
- On a different front, Harley-Davidson's trademark infringement lawsuit against Affliction serves as a reminder in the business world that unauthorized use of a company's iconic logos, in this case the bar-and-shield logo, can pose a threat to the brand's recognition and financial stability, especially in the competitive markets of clothing and merchandise industries.
