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Meta fends off trademark lawsuit from tech staffing company Metabyte
Aug 18 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab has convinced a federal judge in California to dismiss a lawsuit claiming its name infringes a trademark belonging to staffing and tech-services company Metabyte.
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said on Friday, opens new tab that Metabyte could not show Meta's name would mislead consumers into thinking the two companies were affiliated, and that the case was "not a close call."
Metabyte CEO Manu Mehta said that the ruling "risks setting a troubling precedent that disadvantages smaller brand owners" and the company is reviewing its appeal options. An attorney and spokespeople for Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Metabyte is one of several companies that sued Meta Platforms for trademark infringement following its 2021 rebrand from Facebook. Fremont, California-based Metabyte said in its 2023 lawsuit that Meta Platforms' name would confuse consumers, arguing that the two companies offer related services and cover overlapping geographic areas.
Metabyte also asked the court to cancel the tech giant's "Meta" trademark because the term was generic.
Chhabria ruled for Meta on Friday and said Metabyte had "presented virtually no evidence of confusion on the part of prospective employees, and no evidence at all that any such confusion had any effect on Metabyte's business." He also affirmed the validity of Meta's trademark.
The case is Metabyte Inc v. Meta Platforms Inc, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 3:23-cv-04862.
For Metabyte: Karthik Murthy of Murthy Patent Law
For Meta: Bobby Ghajar and Judd Lauter of Cooley
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Meta Platforms hit with US trademark lawsuit from tech company Metabyte
