Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
November 20, 2009
Facebook takes 'knockoff' German site StudiVZ to court
Published: 29 Apr 09 14:45 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20090429-18961.html
Online social networking website Facebook has taken German rival StudiVZ to court for stealing its intellectual property, daily Financial Times Deutschland reported on Wednesday.
ADVERTISING
- Editorial feud erects artistic six-metre penis - Society (20 Nov 09)
- Axel Springer buys stake in Turkish media group - Business & Money (19 Nov 09)
- Children's TV character the Sandman turns 50 - Society (19 Nov 09)
A spokesperson for the German website, which launched about one year after Facebook in 2005, told the paper that the case was groundless. But the two sites do indeed look and function very similarly – with a few minor style differences. Facebook, which has some 2 million users within Germany, features blue as its main colour, meanwhile StudiVZ, with 5.5 million users in German-speaking countries, uses red.
The presiding judge, Heinz Georg Schwitanski, suggested that both sides attempt to reach an agreement out of court by hiring an expert mediator to compare code from both websites to determine if anything had indeed been copied, the paper said. If the two companies don’t reach a deal the court will make a ruling in June.
StudiVZ, which publisher Holtzbrinck bought for €50 million in 2007, was sued by Facebook in San Jose, California last summer. Lawyers for the company called it a “knockoff.”
The German website’s name is a play on a words meaning “students directory.”
The Local (news@thelocal.de)
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Facebook
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
Match-fixing ring rocks European football
Some 200 football matches in nine European countries including at least three Champions League games may have manipulated in a huge match-fixing scandal, German prosecutors said on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Editorial feud erects artistic six-metre penis
In a massive escalation of a long-standing editorial feud, the newspaper Die Tageszeitung has unveiled an artwork depicting the naked editor-in-chief of its right-wing rival Bild sporting a six-metre penis up the façade of its headquarters. READ (8 COMMENTS) »
Disabled woman fired for eating pâté meant for patients
A disabled Hannover woman working at a nursing home has been fired after 18 years on the job for eating pâté intended for patients, daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Friday. READ (14 COMMENTS) »
France finds lost spy file on young Hitler
Secret French intelligence service documents on the young Adolf Hitler have surfaced in the country’s national archives, daily Le Monde reported on Friday. READ (4 COMMENTS) »
Von der Leyen moots expanded child subsidy for poor families
German Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen has proposed expanding a monthly child subsidy for low income parents, daily Passauer Neue Presse reported on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »
Defence minister expects Karzai to take action
NATO countries expect "more than just words" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai after he promised to combat corruption, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Thursday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
Springlike highs expected for weekend
Anyone planning a weekend outing will enjoy sunshine and springlike temperatures in the coming days as a high pressure system moves over the Alps and into central Germany, the DWD weather service reported on Friday. READ »
Chestnut tree kills pedestrian
A 47-year-old Frankfurt woman died late on Thursday after a chestnut tree suddenly fell and crushed her, police reported. READ (7 COMMENTS) »
More Science & Technology
- 16/11 German government gets secure smartphones (6 comments) »
- 13/11 Comet-hunting probe to explore origins of the solar system »
- 12/11 Munich doctors rebuild breasts with pig tissue after cancer (1 comment) »
- 12/11 German 'fog catcher' brings water to Peru slums (2 comments) »
- 10/11 Driver gets German thought-powered prosthetics (1 comment) »
- 09/11 Scientists pinpoint genetic changes due to childhood trauma (1 comment) »
- 06/11 Study finds babies cry in German (1 comment) »
- 05/11 New German drug saves Aussie baby from brain-melting disease (1 comment) »
- 29/10 Hamburg hospital develops treatment to 'fish out' cancer cells »
- 29/10 Dresden institute ranked best place for scientists to work (6 comments) »
Highlights
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
FREDERIC'S serviced apartments
Frederics - the experienced provider of serviced apartments. -
Arenalingua
Arenalingua offers the language you want to learn... -
EXPATTAX - German tax advice in English
German tax advice in English language -
Outland Australian Bar
Australian bar and restaurant -
Sterling Relocation Ltd.
Relocation and moving services for expatriates -
The Potting Shed - Bar & Kitchen
The Potting Shed is a bar and kitchen -
Dr. Jane Elizabeth Dum
Individual and Couple's Therapy and Counseling
Sponsored Links
Jobs in Germany, in English
578 jobs in Germany, in English
343 new jobs this week
67 new jobs today
- Advisors in Financial Risk Management (m/f)
- Sales Manager Solar
- Legal Manager Europe (m/f)
- INHOUSE SAP ABAP TEAMLEADER IN HAMBURG
- Trainee Consultant for specialist Recruitment firm in Frankfurt
- Converter/Power Electronics Engineers, Vestas Technology R&D, Aarhus, DK
- Vice President Operation (Production & Supply Chain)
- Environmental Engineer - HSE R&D, Vestas Technology R&D, Aarhus DK
- Human Resources Generalist / Manager for international organisation near Frankfurt
- Mechanical Design Engineer, Tower & Structure, Technology R&D, Aarhus, DK
Latest news from The Local in Sweden
- 20/11 Teacher charged with sex crimes against pupils »
- 20/11 Liberals call for lower taxes at party congress »
- 20/11 Undertakers face cost of drunken coffin spillage »
- 20/11 North Korean diplomats' smuggling scheme up in smoke »
- 20/11 Vellinge changes course to welcome refugee kids »
Blog
Essentials
Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your
style? Find a German sweetheart here.
Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather
section.
Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.
Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of
charge.
Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
News from the Goethe-Institut
- Reading in Splendour: The new Central Library at Humboldt University in Berlin
The Humboldt brothers envisioned the totality and unity of the arts and sciences as their ideal. - Rebel energy from the Black Forest
In one German town, committed citizens are winning the battle against powerful energy companies. - The Incomparable Value of the Community: The Meister Eckhart Award Goes to Amitai Etzioni
Amitai Etzioni, one of the most profound advocates of communitarianism, has been honoured now. - A Venue for Avant-Garde Dance: The Mousonturm
The Mousonturm was a home for Frankfurt’s independent theatre groups and cabaret when it was founded. - Between Innovative Ideas and Banality: Concerts for Young Target Groups
Concert organizers have been developing new ideas for breaking down barriers between classical music and young people: concerts like events....
News from Young Germany
- After the Fall: YG interviews director of Berlin Wall film
YG gets the inside scoop on the After the Fall documentary from co-director Eric Black - Researchers make new findings in the study of HIV
A new study may help to explain why only one of several of the simian immunodeficiency viruses... - A State becomes history
On October 7, 1949, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was founded. The communist state existed... - Researchers give up search for missing relic of famed German poet
For years, historians have attempted to clarify where the stolen skull of poet Friedrich Schiller... - Master's program in E-learning and Media Education trains educators for the multimedia age
A new Master’s program in E-learning and Media Education known as Elmeb21 will be offered from the...
News from DeutschlandOnline
- Defence minister urges afghan Government to act to bring order to the country
Germany's new Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Thursday said the Afghanistan government... - OECD predicts export driven German recovery from recession
Growing exports and government spending will help to drive Germany along a recovery path next year,... - Micro-Sensor in artery measures blood pressure
High blood pressure can be a trial of patience for doctors and for sufferers, whose blood pressure...
Noticeboard
Toytown Germany
- 23:02 Rant about Amazon Germany
- 23:01 Favorite Christmas or holiday cookies
- 22:59 German houses with corrugated roofs
- 22:54 Is Germany a fascist state?
- 22:53 Racism in Germany
- 22:50 Legality of online file sharing in Germany
- 22:41 What American products should I bring to sell?
- 22:34 Toytown Christmas Party (Munich) 2009
- 22:34 Cycling tours around Munich
- 22:23 Caught my partner looking at sex personals online
Sales manager - Berlin
The Local is seeking a talented and experienced media sales professional for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
The Local is seeking a talented and experienced media sales professional for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
Best Foreign exchange rates dealing - all major currencies
Foreign Currency Direct voted as offering the best exchange rates. All currency exchange transactions are managed by Ben Amrany. We guarantee that readers of The Local/Toytown receive a 5 star service
FULL DETAILS HERE>>>
Foreign Currency Direct voted as offering the best exchange rates. All currency exchange transactions are managed by Ben Amrany. We guarantee that readers of The Local/Toytown receive a 5 star service
FULL DETAILS HERE>>>
Editorial intern - Berlin
The Local needs an editorial intern at its office in Berlin starting in January
FULL JOB DETAILS
The Local needs an editorial intern at its office in Berlin starting in January
FULL JOB DETAILS
JOB: Account Executive Global Brand Team
Edelman, the worlds largest privately owned PR agency, is looking for a native English speaking Account Executive (m/f) for the Global Team in Hamburg (starting in January 2010)
FULL JOB DETAILS
Edelman, the worlds largest privately owned PR agency, is looking for a native English speaking Account Executive (m/f) for the Global Team in Hamburg (starting in January 2010)
FULL JOB DETAILS
Food and drink gift baskets
We offer a wide range of exquisite and unique hampers, elegantly decorated for all occasions. Our service is first class and allows you to send personalised baskets to your loved ones across Europe.
FIND OUT MORE
We offer a wide range of exquisite and unique hampers, elegantly decorated for all occasions. Our service is first class and allows you to send personalised baskets to your loved ones across Europe.
FIND OUT MORE
Snappy summary of the week's best stories
The newsletter is sent out every Friday with an easily swallowed digest of the week's happenings allowing you to pepper your conversations with nuggets of news about the issues of the hour.
SIGN UP HERE>>>
The newsletter is sent out every Friday with an easily swallowed digest of the week's happenings allowing you to pepper your conversations with nuggets of news about the issues of the hour.
SIGN UP HERE>>>
Advertising 2.0
MARKETPLACE - promote your business to half a million targeted readers a month on The Local. Find great products and services in Germany or tell The Local's readers about your own business.
CLICK HERE>>>
MARKETPLACE - promote your business to half a million targeted readers a month on The Local. Find great products and services in Germany or tell The Local's readers about your own business.
CLICK HERE>>>
Your comments about this article: