Just another example of why the patent process needs to be overhauled.
CountRob
· 2 years ago
This is an outrage. You cannot patent ideas, it even says so at the USPTO. You can patent physical things, like a car part or whatever. But software is a grey area and this patent isn't even that, just the concept of a social network.
However, if someone gets hold of it and tries to wield it against every social network, that's just not going to work. Also, it's highly possible this "patent" is invaded because so much prior art exists. Classmates.com came out 6 years before that patent and more or less has similar features.
Mike Mothner
· 2 years ago
I too have a tough time understanding how it is even possible to patent a set of ideas that describe how social networks are created and implemented. Can the owner of the patent declare violation of the patent by the numerous networking sites currently putting these ideas to use on their own initiative? It seems rather absurd that such a patent would be allowed, as this will only lead to unnecessary conflict and harm to existing and valued social networking sites.
Danny Tuppeny
· 2 years ago
Prepare to all be sued! :-(
eas
· 2 years ago
Hmm. LiveJournal started in 1999. I'm not sure when all their various privacy and friend network features were rolled out, but I'm pretty sure they were all there when I started checking it out in mid-2001.
wade
· 2 years ago
I'm sure we can all name 10 sites that had similar or precursor functionality long before 2001.
Even if the patent is valid I wouldn't think it would mean all social networks would have to shut down. That would be like saying, "Ford built the first automobile and patented it, so it is illegal to make automobiles unless you are Ford." Every social network has it's own version of those ideas... which were taken from other companies... which were taken from pre-web ideas, and so forth.
Thus the old saying: "There are no original ideas."
Ben Strackany
· 2 years ago
The thing is, defending against a patent lawsuit is so expensive that many companies would rather pay bonus "license" fees than pay out the $2MM, spend months or years in court, and hope that the judges et al are savvy enough to understand that there's no infringement.
mark
· 2 years ago
roflmao, this as stupid as saying I own a patent on how to chew gum.
Ben
· 2 years ago
You guys are right that an idea alone cannot be patented and thats also clear with the USPTO - the invention has to be backed by a technology to enable it.
All Comments
However, if someone gets hold of it and tries to wield it against every social network, that's just not going to work. Also, it's highly possible this "patent" is invaded because so much prior art exists. Classmates.com came out 6 years before that patent and more or less has similar features.
Even if the patent is valid I wouldn't think it would mean all social networks would have to shut down. That would be like saying, "Ford built the first automobile and patented it, so it is illegal to make automobiles unless you are Ford." Every social network has it's own version of those ideas... which were taken from other companies... which were taken from pre-web ideas, and so forth.
Thus the old saying: "There are no original ideas."