Friendster got a patent for its design and computer system for doing social networking. This was reported by Red Herring, apparently Friendster just won the patent on June 27, 2006 after filing a couple of years earlier. What does this mean, do all social networking sites like LinkedIn violate the Friendster patent, and do all of these sites have to pay royalties to Friendster for using their patent? I'm not sure exactly what this patent will mean to social networking sites, if it will infringe on Friendster and that this will cause a whole bunch of lawsuits. It just boggles the mind as to what kind of patent you can get these days from the US Patent Office. For example, Amazon patented their 1-click buying model on their site, I mean a process like that can be patented? There needs to be an overhaul of the US Patent system.
This is not good for social networking or for technology in general, because patents stifle innovation, when ideas are locked and are not free for others, society does not benefit but is hampered because you start having lawsuits and companies start suing other companies.
No comments:
Post a Comment