Elon Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro accused Meta of creating a “copycat app” in a threatening letter. Meta received a letter from Spiro alleging the use of ex-Twitter employees in the Threads app development.
Spiro Wrote a Threatening Letter to Meta
Spiro demanded Meta cease using Twitter’s trade secrets and confidential information immediately. Musk’s lawyer cautioned Meta against engaging in data scraping activities on Twitter.
The biggest competitor’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, wrote a threatening letter to Meta after the Threads app rollout. Twitter intends to enforce its intellectual property rights firmly, as stated by Spiro in his letter.
Semafor, an online publication, had access to a copy of the letter sent by Spiro. Spiro accused Meta of employing former Twitter employees for the app development. In the letter, Spiro claimed that Meta had made a “copycat app.”
Meta Denied The Accusations
Meta categorically denied the accusation, stating that no Threads engineer is a former Twitter employee. Meta’s communications director Andy Stone posted a denial, stating that it’s “just not a thing.”
The timing of the letter to Meta suggests some nervousness among certain individuals on Twitter. The Threads app gained over 30 million signups within 24 hours, which could concern Musk and Twitter.
Reactions From Twitter and Musk After the Threads Launch
Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter for $44 billion in 2022, has not publicly addressed the situation. Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino tweeted, “We’re often imitated, but the Twitter community can never be duplicated.” The Associated Press encountered an automated response from Twitter, represented by a poop emoji. The response reflects the company’s attitude under Elon Musk’s leadership as a billionaire entrepreneur.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey raised concerns about Meta’s new app, highlighting the data permissions and access it requires. Dorsey posted a screenshot of the app’s data requirements and tweeted, “We have full ownership of all your Threads.”
Moreover, Elon joined the conversation and agreed with a simple “Yeah” in response to Dorsey’s post. Additionally, the newly appointed CEO of Twitter sarcastically commented on the management of Meta, stating, “Thank goodness, they are so well-run.”
This sarcastic remark directly referred to a statement made by a Meta executive regarding their aim to establish a “well-run” social media platform through Threads.
The tweets from Dorsey and Musk emphasize the doubts and criticism directed towards Meta and its app. The concerns surrounding data access and permissions in Meta’s Threads app have also raised privacy issues.
The remarks from Twitter contribute to the ongoing discussion surrounding Meta’s platform. It is evident that Meta’s app is not only facing scrutiny from industry figures like Dorsey and Musk but also from the competitive landscape of the social media industry.
Threads Becomes an Instant Hit
Since Musk’s takeover, Twitter has struggled to retain its user base. His controversial public behaviour has prompted some users to seek alternatives.
Former US President Donald Trump’s Truth Social has not attracted many sign-ups. Given the circumstances, this could be an opportune moment for Zuckerberg and Meta.
Meta launched Threads on Wednesday night, developed by its Instagram employees. The app quickly gained tens of millions of users within 24 hours.
Threads combines features from Instagram and Twitter, allowing users to share photos like Twitter. Users can post videos up to five minutes long on Threads. The app is available for iOS and Android users through the App Store and Play Store.
Users can also access Threads from the desktop site. Threads offers a mix of Instagram and Twitter functionalities, including photo sharing and video posting.
However, the company, previously known as Facebook, has a history of allowing projects to decline. Threads’ success highlights the potential for Meta to attract disenchanted Twitter users. The app’s rapid user growth indicates an opportunity for Meta in the market.
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