Facebook co-founder Mr Mark Zuckerberg has been warned of the risk of being sued for using the feature ‘Like’ on his site.
Daily Mail in a story said a San Jose judge has warned Zuckerberg that he and his site may be sued by any one form ordinary citizens to celebrities for using the feature.
Facebook presently uses the feature for revealing products or interests that users ‘like’ to their friends. The Daily Mail has pointed out that it could be illegal under the laws of the California state which prohibits unauthorized use of people’s likenesses for commercial purposes.
The daily has reported that the judge has recently turned down an appeal from the Facebook management to dismiss the first case against it where users alleged they have been economically injured because of its ‘Like’ button being used for advertising.
Facebook first introduced ‘promotions’ in January 2011 linking it to ‘Like’ products and often to prizes or even bonuses through online games. Zuckerberg defended the feature by insisting that a trusted referral is the Holy Grail of advertising.
US District Judge Lucy Koh, however, pointed out that users should be entitled to some gain from commercial endorsements linked to the ‘Like’ feature, according to the Mail. (JUBS)
