Facebook apologizes to drug maker over URL gaffe
Merck KgaA said the social network ‘has not been cooperative’ after the German drug maker learned U.S.-based Merck took over the rights to its Facebook Web address.
German drug maker Merck KgaA complained when its U.S. rival Merck & Co. took over the rights to the URL Facebook.com/Merck.
According to The Wall Street Journal, German Merck arranged for exclusive rights to the URL with Facebook in March 2010. In October, the U.S. company was using it.
A Facebook spokesperson apologized for the “administrative error,” but that’s not stopping the German Merck from asking a U.S. court to force Facebook to explain itself. It claims that Facebook “has not been cooperative” in rectifying the situation.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
