Facebook Could Sue Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook appears to be on the verge of suing Mark Zuckerberg because he likes the site too much. But this is no ordinary like -- and no ordinary Zuckerberg.

The man in question is not the billionaire founder of Facebook, but rather an Israeli man who's trying an unusual tactic to highlight his side of a legal battle. He's an Israeli online businessman who was formerly known as Rotem Guez, but has now legally changed his name to Mark Zuckerberg (which is the exact same name of the CEO of Facebook). He's even taken out a passport in the new name.

The dispute involves a company owned by the former Guez, known as The Like Store. It offers services designed to help businesses get more people to "like" them on Facebook, clicking a button to subscribe to news updates and promotional tools about the business.

This can work as a form of viral marketing, as whenever one Facebook user "likes" a business, all their Facebook friends will be informed of the move, potentially encouraging them to check it out.

Promotional Tactics Open to Question

The Like Store not only charged clients for the number of "Likes" it helped them get, but may have created bogus user accounts. Both actions violate Facebook's terms of service. (Source: zdnet.com)

Naturally, The Like Store had its own Facebook page but earlier this year Facebook deleted it. This led to the man then known as Guez suing Facebook and its local affiliate in Israel, saying the move was unwarranted.

In September, Facebook hit back with a cease and desist letter. It demanded that Guez stop violating the terms and conditions of Facebook.

User License Cancelled by Facebook

Because there was no reply to Guez, Facebook's lawyers wrote another letter this month.

As well as repeating their demands that he stop the violating actions, they also formally withdrew his license to use Facebook services, which is inherently granted to all customers. That now means that if the Guez continues using Facebook in any way, including as part of his business, he'll be subject to civil action. (Source: markzuckerbergofficial.com)

What Facebook didn't know is that a week before it sent this letter, Guez had gone to the Israeli Ministry of Home Affairs and changed his name to Mark Zuckerberg. That means that if a court case does ensue, it may have to be listed as "Facebook vs Mark Zuckerberg."