Twitter is contemplating taking legal action against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over its rapidly growing rival app, Threads. Threads, which was recently launched to millions of users, bears similarities to Twitter and has been positioned by Meta executives as a “friendly” alternative.
In response to the launch of Threads, Twitter’s Elon Musk expressed that “competition is fine, cheating is not.” However, Meta has refuted claims made in a legal letter by Twitter, alleging that former Twitter employees contributed to the creation of the Threads app.
According to Meta, over 30 million people have already signed up for the new app. BBC News technology reporter James Clayton pointed out the striking resemblance in appearance and features between Threads and Twitter, noting the familiar news feed and reposting functionality.
The legal dispute was initially reported by news outlet Semafor. Twitter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accusing Meta of engaging in “systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitter’s trade secrets and other intellectual property” in the development of Threads.
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Spiro specifically claimed that Meta had recruited numerous former Twitter employees who had access to Twitter’s confidential information, thereby assisting Meta in creating the alleged “copycat” app, Threads.
Meanwhile, Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, stated on Threads that none of the app’s engineering team consists of former Twitter employees, refuting Twitter’s claims.
Upon Threads’ global launch in 100 countries, Mark Zuckerberg broke his 11-year Twitter silence and shared a popular meme depicting two nearly identical Spider-Man figures pointing at each other, symbolizing a standoff.
Full article can be read at bbc.com
