Facebook Sues Small Teacher Community Site

Facebook has filed a lawsuit against Teachbook, a little-known community website for teachers. The lawsuit alleges that Teachbook is “misappropriating the distinctive book portion of Facebook’s trademark … in a blatant attempt to become a Facebook for teachers.” Facebook is suing for unspecified damages, and wants the judge to order Teachbook to change its name immediately.

So would Facebook sue any site bearing the “book” suffix? “We have no complaint against Kelly Blue Book or Green Apple Books,” a spokesman tells Wired. Teachbook, he added, was free to make an online network for teachers. “What they are not free to do is trade on our name or dilute our brand.” (More Facebook stories.)