Protection from Facebook trade mark squatters

Worried that a third party will register your trade mark as a Facebook username?

Facebook has announced that from Saturday, June 13th at 12:01 a.m. U.S. EDT Facebook users can create personalised URLs for their Facebook pages, for example, facebook.com/vennershipley.

Up until now users have used real names to identify themselves. The only place where this identity is not reflected is the web address for users’ profiles and pages administered by users; the URL is currently a randomly assigned number. The changes announced by Facebook will allow users to choose names on a first come first served basis and will make it easier for users to be found, for example, by entering a username as part of the URL in the browser.

Facebook has taken steps to prevent abuse or "squatting" on names. It has also created an online form for trade mark owners interested in preventing their trade marks from being registered as usernames by Facebook users. This form can be found at http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=username_rights. The form can be completed and submitted by the trade mark owner or a person legally authorised to act on behalf of the trade mark owner.

If you have any concerns or would like further advice, please ask your usual Venner Shipley contact or send an enquiry to mail@vennershipley.co.uk.

Claire Birro 10 Jun 2009

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