Lamebook Prevails Over Facebook in Trademark Infringement Case

August 31, 2011

Lamebook.com, co-founded in 2009 by two Texas-based graphic designers, is a Facebook parody website that highlights the funny, absurd, and often "lame" content from the Facebook website. Each weekday, Lamebook is updated with new "lame" Facebook content for its users to view and comment on.

In March 2010, Facebook contacted Lamebook alleging that the website infringed the "Facebook" trademark, and requested that Lamebook stop using the "Lamebook" name and change the look of its website. After a series of communications between Lamebook counsel and Facebook counsel, the parties were unable to reach a resolution. In November of 2010, Bracewell filed suit on behalf of Lamebook against Facebook in federal court in Austin, Texas seeking a declaratory judgment that Lamebook does not infringe Facebook's trademark and that the Lamebook site constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment. Case settled in August, 2011. Under the terms of the agreement, Lamebook continues to be able to use the “Lamebook” mark in connection with its website.