Facebook vs Designbook

Today, the big tech news in Vermont is that a Burlington based startup, Designbook, is currently facing a trademark issue with Facebook. Here is the background story: http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/burlingtons-designbook-faces-off-with-facebook/Content?oid=2640790. This has even led to Vermont’s governor, Peter Shumlin, writing a letter to Mark Zukerberg which can be found here:

So, why am I writing about this? From tracking this story throughout the day, almost everyone is siding with Designbook. Some of the support includes Facebook doesn’t own the word “book”, that the two businesses are completely different, or that Facebook is bullying Designbook. Here are my thoughts and why I am supporting Facebook.

1. My first point here is that Facebook is not bullying Designbook here. Designbook filed for a Trademark. During this process, businesses can oppose the filing if they would like. This isn’t bullying, just part of the Trademark process.
2. I can understand why Facebook is opposing the Designbook name. While the two business’ have nothing in common, they are both social media platforms. If someone told me to check out this new social media called Designbook, my first thoughts are tied to Facebook. Did Facebook, create a sub network of its own and call it Designbook? I can’t speak for Facebook, but my guess is that the opposition is because of the association “book”. It doesn’t matter whether or not the businesses have anything in common, it’s all about the association in the name. To me, Facebook is simply protecting it’s name/brand/image association. This is enough reason to oppose the Designbook trademark.