Facebook Settles Suit With Website Operator

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook's battle with Lamebook.com is over.

The two companies have reached an agreement that lets Lamebook continue to operate under its current name, but Lambook won't seek trademark protection for its name and it will add a disclaimer to its website, which mocks the lame things people post on Facebook.

Facebook for about a year has been aggressive in its defense of its trademark by going against websites starting with the word “face” or ending in “book,” or using the complete "facebook" in the URL.

The mainstream social network has filed suit against two adult social networks.

Friendfinder, which has been in a legal tussle over FacebookOfSex.com since April, and Faceporn.com, whose Bergen, Norway-based operator has been in litigation with Facebook for about a year. Both those suits continue in federal courts.

In all of its suits, Facebook has claimed that the sites siphon away its traffic and dilutes the brand.  

Lamebook operators, prior to the suit, declared its site serves as a "humorous parody of Facebook and the role it plays in society," but that the social network's heavy-handed legal tactics were causing uncertainty to its business.

The case got legs in March when Lamebook's two founders, graphic designers Jonathan Standefer and Matthew Genitempo of Austin, Texas, were contacted by Facebook counsel. They claimed in correspondence that Lamebook infringes and dilutes Facebook's mark.

Lamebook counsel later responded by stating that it is a "clear parody" of the Facebook mark, according to the suit filed at U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas.

"As such it does not infringe or dilute the Facebook mark and is a protected form of expression under the 1st Amendment," Lamebook attorneys said.

Nevertheless, Facebook served a cease-and-desist letter to Lamebook, which promptly replied with a lawsuit complaining Facebook has "created a reasonable apprehension of litigation and have placed a cloud over Lamebook's ability to make use of the Lamebook mark."

With the settlement, the companies said in a joint statement, "The parties are now satisfied that users are not likely to be confused."

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More