Meta Sued Over Threads Logo by Mobile Game Developer Appsoleut Coders
Meta Platforms is facing a trademark lawsuit over its logo for Threads. The lawsuit was filed by a mobile gaming company called Appsoleut Coders.
In the complaint, filed in Federal Court on June 4, Appsoleut Coders claims that Meta’s Threads logo—a stylized “@” symbol—closely resembles a logo the gaming company has used since October 2021. Meta reintroduced the current Threads logo in July 2023.
Appsoleut Coders, which develops and distributes mobile games in the U.S. and abroad, says that because it began using the logo nearly two years before Meta adopted a similar one, it is the rightful “senior user” of the mark under U.S. trademark law.
While Threads is a social networking app and not a mobile game publisher, Appsoleut argues that the lines between gaming and social platforms are increasingly blurred. “Modern gaming is inherently social,” the complaint reads, suggesting that both companies are operating in overlapping markets of downloadable mobile software.
The lawsuit takes a sharper turn with an allegation that Meta may have used its internal enforcement systems to its own benefit. According to the complaint, Appsoleut’s Facebook account was removed by Meta for alleged violations of its platform policies, including concerns over “authentic identity.” Appsoleut suggests this action may have been tied directly to its use of the disputed logo.
Appsoleut is seeking an injunction to stop Meta from using the logo, along with monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, and punitive damages.
Trademark disputes like this often hinge on whether consumers are likely to confuse the two brands. That analysis will depend on how distinctive the logos are, how similar the goods and services are, and how many third parties use similar “@”-style marks.
While Appsoleut may have a legitimate argument—especially if Meta actively removed their presence from Facebook over a logo conflict—the case also highlights a difficult reality for small companies: litigation against a tech giant like Meta can be prohibitively expensive. Legal costs could easily exceed $500,000 before even reaching trial.
Meta has not yet filed a response to the complaint. In the coming weeks, the company will have the opportunity to answer the lawsuit or seek to dismiss it. Meanwhile, the parties could explore settlement options.
The case is yet another example of how branding—especially in an app-driven age—can spark high-stakes legal battles over who got there first.
Josh Gerben, Esq.
Josh Gerben, Esq. is a nationally recognized trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben IP. Since launching the firm in 2008, he has overseen the registration of over 10,000 trademarks and handled over 1,500 trademark disputes. Josh's practice focuses on building and defending global trademark portfolios for clients. These clients include entrepreneurs, private equity-backed businesses, athletes, celebrities, and public companies. Frequently quoted by major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Josh is widely regarded as a leading authority in trademark law.
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