Facebook Sues German Social Network

By Digital Trends Staff July 21, 2008

Facebook Sues German Social Network

Facebook isn’t happy with the German social network Studivz. That’s because it believes Studivz, short or Studienverzeichnis – or students’ directory – has violated its intellectual property by copying Facebook’s look, feel and features, according to the BBC. So it’s filed suit against the German upstart in a California court.

Studivz has around 10 million members, most of whom are based in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Facebook has around 125 million members, according to the latest figues – but few of them are in Germany, which is why the case has developed, according to Studivz, which claims it has yet to be served with court papers, and has gone to court in Germany to have Facebook’s claims declared to have no merit.

According to its court complaint, Facebook says:

"As with any counterfeit product, Studivz’s uncontrolled quality standards for service, features and privacy negatively impact the genuine article."

In response, Marcus Riecke, CEO of Studivz, said: "There are numerous social networks. Facebook was not the first and certainly isn’t the only one."

Editors' Recommendations

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Computing

How to secure your Wi-Fi network

man wearing wireless earbuds

Given how much valuable information we entrust to computers these days, it's more important than ever to ensure that your work and home networks are safe. All it takes is one chink in your Wi-Fi's armor to compromise your system, leading to ransomware, invasion of privacy, and the loss of invaluable personal data. Learn how to secure your Wi-Fi network today, and rest easier knowing you've prevented future outrages.
Why do I need to secure my Wi-Fi network?

Wi-Fi works by broadcasting the signal from your modem via a wireless router up to several hundred feet away, allowing any compatible device to connect to the internet. While this is undoubtedly a major convenience for both work and home networks, it also raises the unpleasant possibility that a cybercriminal could compromise the network and gain access to your devices and information. Should any crime be committed using your PC, such as spamming or harassment, the investigation would lead back to your computer, potentially putting you at legal risk.

Web

The future of Facebook is Instagram

Instagram

Instagram hasn’t seemed like its past self in a while.

At the bottom of its app, no longer will you find an option to compose a new post or even a tab to browse who liked and commented on your recent pictures and videos. Instead, these are now tucked away in a corner to make room for the photo-sharing social network’s latest ventures: E-commerce and a bottomless pit of vertical videos. That’s not to be confused with the clips housed under the TV-like icon or the row of ephemeral stories at the top of your feed.

Web

Facebook’s new privacy tool convinced me to delete my account

facebook hacked

For years, my Facebook account has practically sat dormant. It's a nostalgic relic of the past that lets me occasionally walk down the memory lane of my life’s first two decades. But it's also a weak link in my digital privacy. I've known for years that Facebook is constantly watching, studying me as I wander through the web. Still, I never gathered up the courage to delete my account and burn it to the ground once and for all. Until last week, that is.
The final nail in the Facebook coffin
A few days ago, I found myself staring wide-eyed at the rundown of all the nearly 1,400 websites and apps that have gathered data on me and shared it with Facebook. I was looking at the Off-Facebook Activity tool, one of the recent additions to Facebook’s suite of security options for users that I had fortuitously stumbled upon. Moments later, my cursor was hovering over the Delete Account button.

Facebook knows a lot about you. After the countless controversies and privacy “bugs,” you probably already knew that. What most people are not familiar with, however, is the vast network of third parties that has enabled Facebook to invade nearly every app you use, and become the data superpower it is today.