Facebook is said to have taken over the “Friends near you” function from an Italian app provider and therefore has to pay compensation.

(Image: Cryptographer / Shutterstock.com)

Because Facebook is said to have copied the “Nearby” function, the social network in Italy has to pay compensation of 3.8 million euros. That was decided by an appeals court in Milan. The lawsuit goes back to the year 2013.

Faround was the name of the app that was quite popular in Italy at the time. It could view friends nearby, as well as stores and restaurants. Facebook took over this role in its services, with Faround things went downhill. The developers filed a lawsuit. A first judgment gave them 2016 right, as reported by Reuters. The appeal decision now sets the amount for the compensation of 350. 000 euros to just under 4 million euros.

A Facebook spokesman Reuters said his company got the decision and will look into it.

(emw)