A U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York has thrown out a lawsuit against Meta this week, which had been simmering for a year and a half. The lawsuit, filed in late 2021 by now-shuttered social app Phhhoto, alleged that Meta violated federal antitrust law by copying its core features with the Instagram-adjacent video looping app Boomerang.
Boomerang, which was launched by Meta in October of 2015, was later integrated into Instagram itself. Phhhoto, like Boomerang, invited users to share very short GIF-like loops. The lawsuit filed by Phhhoto argued that Meta had copied its core features, thereby violating federal antitrust law.
However, U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto granted Meta’s motion to dismiss the complaint due to time-limits imposed by the relevant statutes of limitations. In other words, the lawsuit was dismissed because it had not been filed in a timely manner.
This ruling is a win for Meta, which has faced significant legal challenges in recent years. The company, which was formerly known as Facebook, has been accused of violating antitrust laws in several different lawsuits.
Meta has faced increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators in recent years due to its dominant position in the social media market. The company has been accused of using its market power to stifle competition and harm smaller rivals.
Despite these legal challenges, Meta continues to dominate the social media landscape. The company’s products, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, are used by billions of people around the world.
It remains to be seen whether Meta will face further legal challenges in the future. However, for now, the company can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this particular lawsuit has been dismissed.
