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Facebook Settles Suit Over 'Likes' Ads for $10M

Users don't want personal images used for profit

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 17, 2012 3:45 PM CDT

(AP) – Facebook is paying $10 million to settle a lawsuit over ads that it called sponsored stories. Facebook's service allowed companies to pay to retransmit users' activities to their friends' pages. If a user clicked the "like" button for a brand, the click might show up as a "sponsored story" on friends' pages. The ads started in early 2011.

Some Facebook users sued, saying that Facebook used their images for commercial activity. Facebook had argued that the plaintiffs did not show they were hurt by the practice. Court documents from late last week say a settlement has been reached. Facebook attorney Michael Rhodes confirms today that it's for $10 million, which will be given to charity. A judge still needs to approve the settlement.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 8, 2011 in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 8, 2011 in Sun Valley, Idaho.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 3 comments
bewilderbeast
Jun 18, 2012 5:52 AM CDT
The Zuckerberg way. Steal, duck and dive, fix* if you have to. Bank the profit. . *sort of
PJ1000
Jun 17, 2012 6:48 PM CDT
That the settlement of$10 million is being paid to charity is a good thing.  Wondering if that includes the lawyers' fees as well.  I'm thinking "no."

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 

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