I read the article twice and I'm still confused. This must be why I'm not in the 1%

Facebook does not manage a company's web page. To my knowledge, Facebook has no domain registrar authority at all.

They may very well issue Facebook pages, but that's a very different thing - in much the same way that bumper cars are different from your daily driver.

FTA: "Company communication departments have realised that many of the people they want to reach and influence are already on Facebook," said Simon Myers, from the consultancy Figtree Network.

"As corporate content becomes more tailored and engaging, social media sites such as Facebook represent a brighter future of greater customer dialogue and interaction than the current corporate website with static content and pictures of people shaking hands."

Um, Simon?

Figtree Network corporate website ^

Figtree Network on Facebook ^

Incog_Neeto: I read the article twice and I'm still confused. This must be why I'm not in the 1%

steveGswine: Facebook does not manage a company's web page. To my knowledge, Facebook has no domain registrar authority at all.

They may very well issue Facebook pages, but that's a very different thing - in much the same way that bumper cars are different from your daily driver.

Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned "http://www.facebook.com/merck". Somehow - Merck in the US was granted ownership - or at least the ability to change content on - the German Mercks business facebook page. Hence the problem.

/most likely an administrative error on Facebooks part
//doesn't bring up interesting legal questions on ownership of business pages

bravian: //doesn't bring up interesting legal questions on ownership of business pages

"does bring up"

/preview is your friend

I'm sure all your millions of Facebook friends are very confused right now Merck.

Merck KGaA's lawyer, Robert Horowitz said he had sent a letter and a series of emails to various Facebook staff asking to discuss what had happened to the webpage.

However, he said the respondents "either did not understand the problem... [or were] intentionally giving unresponsive answers".

Sounds like he's surprised by the cut/pastes and autoreplies he received.

Subby must like Merck.

This headline makes me want to see the "Yo, Dawg" meme. "Yo, Dawg, I heard you like Facebook, so we put a Facebook in your Facebook so you don't lose your Facebook while Facebook on your Facebook." Someone with better PS skills than I should make it so.

bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

More likely situation: Someone from Merck KGaA gave someone from Merck & Co. administrative access to the page, and they are suing Facebook to cover for their own foul-up.

lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

Free/cheap marketing.

lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

So that lonely people can up their friend count?

Or the very stupid. You're not getting an iPad, no matter how much you like Acme Brand Dog Chow.

Arkanaut: Subby must like Merck.

Yo dawg, I heard you like Merck.

squidgod2000: lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

Free/cheap marketing.

And dumb, lazy Facebook addicts who want to ask questions about their perscripshun drugs while they play Farmville.

lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

So we can have one more thing on the Internet to ignore?

lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

Because... synergy! Yes, synergistic leveraged best of breed outside the box paradigm shifting win-win!

Easy. If there's an obligation to Merck KGaA, give them the facebook.com/merck page.

Merck US can have facebook.com/merckUS

La la.

MusicMakeMyHeadPound: lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

So that lonely people can up their friend count?

Or the very stupid. You're not getting an iPad, no matter how much you like Acme Brand Dog Chow.

Liking a company or product doesn't up your friend count. And companies give coupons for free stuff to their Facebook fans all the time.

/ Like -> get coupon -> unlike

I like it when big giants fight and I don't care who loses.

I do, however, feel smarter for knowing there are two different Mercks.

/marquis and montego
//off the lawn, you

haemaker: Today, to the feeble-minded, the internet is called "Facebook". If you are not on "Facebook", you don't exist.

No no. There are a group of us... a small group... and getting smaller everyday, that are not on facebook. We can only be killed in one way... if we join. When one of us joins, his power is absorbed by the rest of us. We call it.... the Quickening!

/There can be only one.

lordargent: bravian : Good grief. There are two separate companies named Merck. One in Germany and one in the US. The Merck in Germany set up a business site on facebook and was assigned

A better question is, why do businesses need facebook pages.

Damn son, don't ever get into marketing/anything business/PR related.

I live next door to the Merck complex in West Point, Pa...so I'm getting a kick..etc..

FTFA:

"The German drugmaker Merck KGaA has begun legal action against Facebook after discovering what its lawyer described as the "the apparent takeover of its Facebook page".

The webpage is being used by the German firm's US rival Merck & Co."

Merck KGaA has since filed a petition with the- Supreme Court of the State of New York.

German Company vs US Pharmaceutical company regarding a webpage on a site owned by another major US company in a US court. I don't know why the're wasting their time and money attempting to fight this.

I'd also be surprised if the Facebook terms and conditions don't have a clause that says something like "We reserve the right to take over your page and give it to whoever we like without any obligation to tell you when or why, because FARK YOU, that's why".

Confused?

Republicat: More likely situation: Someone from Merck KGaA gave someone from Merck & Co. administrative access to the page, and they are suing Facebook to cover for their own foul-up.

Now that'd be funny. Even they can't keep track of who works at which company