14 DAY TRIAL // Lawsuits come with the territory when you're the size of Facebook, especially in the suit-happy US, but, while most carry no real threat, they can be irritating, not to mention expensive. Last November, a company called Leader Technologies sued Facebook for patent infringement on a technology it describes as “a method and system for the management and storage of electronic information.” Some dismissed it at first as just another publicity stunt from an obscure company, but, this week, the judge presiding the case ordered Facebook to give the company access to its source code.
Judge Leonard P. Stark of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware has given Facebook time until the end of the week to present a hierarchical map of the source code to Leader Technologies and until August 21 to release the full code. As expected, Facebook isn't happy with the order and plans to appeal it.
“While we respect the magistrate judge’s opinion, we disagree with it on this point and plan to appeal. Generally, this suit is without merit and we will continue to fight it aggressively,” a Facebook spokesperson said in an email statement. He went to say that the company wasn't worried about the decision. RealGeek, though, citing inside information, claimed that Facebook had already supplied Leader with some source code.
Leader technologies develops a web-based collaboration platform and was founded in 1997. It holds several patents in the field, with the one in question being awarded in 2006. The company seeks damages and an order to stop Facebook from using the offending technology.
Facebook is involved in several other legal disputes, including a case against Power.com, with the social network claiming that the company acquired and stored user data against Facebook policies. Another case is the suit filed by sports site RootZoo accusing the social network of click fraud.