Facebook Flap -- Merck v. Merck -- Resolved, March 23 , 2012

Back in November of 2011, the German Merck discovered that the Whitehouse Station Merck (no relation, for the last 92 years!) had filched the keys to its vanity address on Facebook. A New York lawsuit was filed. Then silence, presumably as the parties negotiated a settlement.

I neglected to mention that about two weeks ago, a settlement was apparently reached, and the New York case was dismissed:

. . . .MERCK KGAA V. FACEBOOK INC

CASE DISPOSED | CONCLUDED | Friday, Mar 23, 2012. . . .

It would seem -- via a check of Facebook, this morning, that the resulting settlement provides that neither company will get the shorthanded (and thus coveted) "www.facebook.com/Merck" address. From now on, US Merck will have to use the much clunkier "www.facebook.com/home.php#!/MerckBeWell".

A search on Facebook of the term Merck -- offers both pages as clickable icons, with clear graphics -- as to which is which.

In addition, the US Merck has summarily deleted all the commentary on its own Facebook page -- comments made by Facebook denizens, largely decrying US Merck's conduct in the 2011 squatting flap. It. has. all. been. disappeared. Move along, citizens -- nothing to see, here.

So it goes.

Recent Commentary, From Facebook Users, On Merck's (US) Non-Vanity URL Page

The below is in response to US Merck & Co.'s statement, on Facebook (posted just before the vanity URL page's keys were disabled, on Monday night). The Merck US statement read ". . .Earlier today, Facebook announced plans to decommission our vanity URL due to an administrative error on Facebook's part. We want to assure you that our Facebook page will remain active and continue to serve as a helpful resource for information on health and well-being. We thank you for your patience and continued support. . . ."

Facebook users have responded -- as set forth below -- since then:

. . . .Peter Sinnott

So when will the real Merck get the url back?

Yesterday at 11:26am · Likes · 10. . . .

James Hooker

As I understand it, either the two companies must come to some sort of agreement over the URL (one takes ownership, or shared ownership?) or Facebook will prevent the 'Merck' vanity URL from being used at all, forcing each company to create a new URL based on their specific company name (MerckKGaA/MerckCo as examples).

6 hours ago · Likes · 1. . . .

James Hooker

Quite ludicrous in my opinion, seeing as the error was Facebook's, and that the vanity URL was originally registered by the German company.

6 hours ago · Likes · 1. . . .

James Hooker

‎. . . .also, regarding the fault being placed on Facebook, surely you KNEW the page you requested access to did not belong to your company?

5 hours ago · Likes · 1. . . .

[Emphasis supplied.] It seems some people really do get it. This could be rather entertaining.