Regarding the Threads app, Twitter threatens legal action.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is facing potential legal action from Twitter over its rapidly growing rival app, Threads. Launched recently to millions of users, Threads has been positioned by Meta as a “friendly” alternative to Twitter. However, Twitter’s CEO, Elon Musk, stated that competition is acceptable but cheating is not. In response, Meta has denied allegations made in a legal letter that former Twitter employees assisted in the development of Threads.

According to Meta, over 30 million people have already signed up for the new app. BBC News technology reporter James Clayton observed that Threads bears a strong resemblance to Twitter, with its familiar news feed and reposting features.

News outlet Semafor initially reported that Twitter attorney Alex Spiro sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accusing Meta of unlawfully misappropriating Twitter’s trade secrets and intellectual property to create Threads. Spiro alleged that Meta had hired numerous former Twitter employees who had access to Twitter’s confidential information, which contributed to the development of the alleged “copycat” app Threads.

The letter demanded that Meta immediately cease using any Twitter trade secrets or highly confidential information and warned of Twitter’s intention to enforce its intellectual property rights through civil remedies and injunctive relief if necessary.

BBC News, having obtained a copy of the letter, sought comments from both Meta and Twitter regarding the matter.

Elon Musk, in response to a tweet mentioning the legal letter, emphasized that competition is acceptable but cheating is not.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone posted on Threads that none of the app’s engineering team comprises former Twitter employees, refuting the allegations made in the letter.

The rivalry between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg regarding Threads has been acknowledged by both individuals. Although Threads is linked to Instagram, it functions as a standalone app. Upon its global launch in 100 countries, Zuckerberg broke his 11-year silence on Twitter to post a popular meme featuring two almost identical Spider-Man figures pointing at each other, symbolizing a stand-off. In response, as the word “Threads” trended worldwide on Twitter, Musk expressed his preference for facing criticism from strangers on Twitter rather than seeking superficial happiness on Instagram.