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News: A company called Meta is suing Meta, accusing the tech giant of stealing its name for its metaverse rebrand

News: A company called Meta is suing Meta, accusing the tech giant of stealing its name for its metaverse rebrand


Facebook changed its name to Meta in October 2021. 

A 12-year old company also called Meta is suing the tech giant accusing it of trademark infringement.The company said its business has been damaged by the confusion caused by Facebook's rebrand. 

A company called Meta is suing the tech giant formerly known as Facebook after it changed its name to Meta.

The company which is registered as MetaX LLC, but goes by "Meta" in its branding filed the lawsuit in a Manhattan court on Tuesday. 

Facebook rebranded itself as Meta in October last year, and announced it would be shifting focus to so-called metaverse technologies.

So far this has included VR and AR technologies.

The lawsuit argues Meta's rebrand combined with its metaverse mission has damaged MetaX's business.

"Meta has been crushed by Facebook's flagrant, unlawful conduct," the company said in its lawsuit.

MetaX's founder Justin "JB" Bolognino said in a statement on Twitter the company put "blood, sweat, and tears" into building its brand, which was "seized" by Meta.

MetaX said the rebrand had already led to confusion with consumers,

and that one had asked whether one of its products was "a Facebook thing."

Per the lawsuit the company was founded in 2010, applied for its trademark in 2016, and was successfully registered in 2020. It develops immersive technologies including VR and AR. 

According to the lawsuit, Bolognino wrote to Meta in December 2021 voicing concerns that the rebrand could harm his business.

In a letter attached to the lawsuit as evidence a Meta employee responded to Bolognino saying the two companies provide "drastically different goods and services."

The lawsuit says MetaX spent eight months corresponding with Facebook in "good faith" and provided the tech giant with documents pertaining to its trademark rights.

MetaX is seeking an injunction to stop Meta from continuing to use the word "Meta" in connection with its business or services as well as monetary damages.

It does not specify how much money MetaX is seeking.

Meta did not immediately respond when contacted by Insider. Bolognino did not immediately respond when contacted by Insider outside of US working hours.

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