Meta which is formerly known as Facebook is being sued by a photo application called Phhhoto for allegedly copying its features for Instagram.
Phhhoto Claims Boomerang Features As Theirs
As per the allegations made by Phhhoto, their main feature is to allow users to capture five frames “in a single point-and-shoot burst” which could be compiled into a short video. They claim that the Facebook had copied their main feature and used it on Instagram as boomerang.
The company also reportedly blocked Phhhoto from Instagram’s API from being pre-populated in the Instagram posts. In a complaint filed in the US District court, they said that the actions of Facebook and Instagram has destroyed Phhhoto as a viable business and has further ruined the company’s chances of getting investments.
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Meanwhile, a meta spokesperson said that the suit is without a merit and the company will defend itself.
The application Phhhoto was shut down back in 2017 when they were about to reach 3.7 million monthly active users at its peak. In the lawsuit, Phhhoto claimed that the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, former Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom and several other facebook employees downloaded the app in August 2014 and examined the features.
Meta To Open Physical Stores
Meanwhile, the Meta is reportedly discussing to open retail stores. Reports suggest that the stores would be used to introduce people to devices made by the company’s Reality Labs division like the virtual reality headsets and augmented reality glasses.
These devices are said to be the gateways to a metaverse which would be a futuristic digital world where people would move from virtual augmented versions of reality.
This comes after Facebook changed its name to Meta and introduced a new vision of using the metaverse as a social media platform. The stores will showcase people that the virtual reality and augmented reality can be fun.
