Threads: Twitter threatens legal action over Meta’s new app

Twitter is reportedly considering taking legal action against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over its newly launched app called Threads. The app, which has gained over 70 million users since its launch, is seen as a rival to Twitter. Twitter CEO Elon Musk commented on the situation, stating that competition is acceptable but cheating is not. However, Meta denies allegations that former Twitter employees played a role in developing Threads.

Twitter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg accusing Meta of unlawfully misappropriating Twitter’s trade secrets and intellectual property to create Threads. The letter claims that Meta hired numerous former Twitter employees who had access to Twitter’s confidential information, which helped in the development of the Threads app. The letter demands that Meta cease using any Twitter trade secrets or confidential information and warns of potential legal action.

It should be noted that ideas themselves are not protected under US copyright law. To succeed in court, Twitter would have to prove that Meta used its specific intellectual property, such as programming code, without authorization. Additionally, Meta holds a patent for a news feed system, which could further complicate the legal situation.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone responded to the allegations, stating that none of the engineers on the Threads team are former Twitter employees. Both Meta and Twitter have been contacted for further comment by BBC News, who initially reported the story.