KEY POINTS:
Facebook claims it has been ripped off by a German social networking site.
AFP reports that Facebook filed a civil suit in a Californian court last week in an attempt to stop German language site StudiVZ from mimicking its layout.
Facebook also wants StudiVZ to hand over an "unspecified cash settlement".
"This is a case to stop StudiVZ from operating a knockoff of Facebook," AFP quoted Facebook's civil suit as saying.
"A great part, if not all, of StudiVZ's success is due to copying and misuse of Facebook's intellectual property."
The site launched in 2005 and has recently begun to expand into other countries throughout Europe.
AFP says Facebook is demanding a jury trial.
