Merck Threatens Merck With Legal Action Over Facebook URL 115
angry tapir writes with an excerpt from a Techworld article: "Germany's Merck KGaA has threatened legal action after it said it lost its Facebook page apparently to rival Merck & Co. in the U.S., though it has yet to identify defendants in the case. In a filing before the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Merck said it intends to initiate an action based on the apparent takeover of its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/merck by its similarly-named but unrelated competitor, Merck & Co."
Re:Companies suing companies? But, but........ (Score:2, Insightful)
But didn't you know corporations are people too.
Re:Patents were affected by WW1 also (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not what you pirate, but who sanctions the piracy.
Is that really an URL? (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Companies suing companies? But, but........ (Score:2, Insightful)
French fries are made with boiling oil, but I would expect the final product to be served at a temperature that's safe to eat.
Much like I'd expect coffee to be served at a temperature that's safe to drink.
Re:Companies suing companies? But, but........ (Score:4, Insightful)
So the point stands - 185 degrees shouldn't be an unexpected serving temperature.
Re:Patents were affected by WW1 also (Score:2, Insightful)
It's not what you pirate, but who sanctions the piracy.
This must be the first ever occurrence on the internet where the use of the word "pirating" for "IP infringement" is apt.
(and yeah I know that it is lazy to use "IP" for all kinds of copyrights, patents, etc...)
Re:Companies suing companies? But, but........ (Score:2, Insightful)
Coffee is supposed to be served at a temperature that will cause only minor burns if spilled. McDonalds deliberately put theirs customers at risk of serious burns to save money.
You know, people often complain around here that "if corporations are people, why aren't they subject to criminal law". Well, that's what "gross negligence" is. Had McD's served their coffe at the more reasonable temp that most everyone else does, this would maybe have been ordinary negligence, and the lady would likely have gotten the $20k she sued for (because juries love to award money to little old adies). But instead they knowingly endangered their customers to make a buck, and this (unnecessarily serious injury) was the statistically predictable result.
Really high awards for gross negligence take the place of criminal law for corporations. When a corporation deliberately puts customers at risk because it seems cheaper, it's appropriate to respond with an award so high that it scares other corporations away from that way of thinking.
Re:Companies suing companies? But, but........ (Score:3, Insightful)
And thanks to this logic, consumers all over the world are now regarded as little children. Warnings are placed everywhere. You are not allowed any initiative anymore, all in fear of a lawsuit. So much money going to waste. And all that because some prick wanted to extort McDonalds.