Facebook Trademark Alert

Facebook has just announced that its users will now be able to create personalized usernames for their Facebook pages that will translate into unique URL addresses (e.g., facebook.com/your_username). Selection of usernames will start on a first-come first-serve basis at 12:01am EDT on Saturday, June 13 (11:01pm CDT on Friday, June 12). More information on the selection of usernames through Facebook is available at: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=896

Facebook has addressed intellectual property rights in its username policies. Specifically, Facebook allows trademark owners to (1) prevent registration of usernames that infringe their trademarks proactively, and (2) report that a username infringes their trademarks. More information on Facebook's username intellectual property policies is available here: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=899

If you have questions about this new Facebook policy, or if you would like assistance with protecting your trademarks against infringement by Facebook usernames, please contact Julie Jennings (jjennings@senniger.com) or any others in the Senniger Powers Trademark Department, listed at: http://www.senniger.com/practice/trademark.php.