Friendster receives patent covering social networking

[mandy]

Friendster said Thursday that it has received a patent that covers online social networks, one the company had applied for long before its decline and recent recapitalization.

The U.S. patent, which was awarded June 27, is extremely general, and would seem to cover the activities of many other sites, especially those like LinkedIn that allow people to connect within a certain number of degrees of separation. 

...the patent refers to a “system, method, and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks.”

“It’s way too early to say” whether the company would pursue licenses and litigation from its competitors, Friendster President Kent Lindstrom told RedHerring.com. “We’ll do what we can to protect our intellectual property.”...

full article: http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=17498&hed=Friendster+Wins+Patent

From the patent:

System, method and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for calculating, displaying and acting upon relationships in a social network is described. A computer system collects descriptive data about various individuals and allows those individuals to indicate other individuals with whom they have a personal relationship. The descriptive data and the relationship data are integrated and processed to reveal the series of social relationships connecting any two individuals within a social network. The pathways connecting any two individuals can be displayed. Further, the social network itself can be displayed to any number of degrees of separation. A user of the system can determine the optimal relationship path (i.e., contact pathway) to reach desired individuals. A communications tool allows individuals in the system to be introduced (or introduce themselves) and initiate direct communication.

the patent: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7,069,308.PN.&OS=PN/7,069,308&RS=PN/7,069,308

[Kristijntje]

A related article:

A pioneer in the area of online social networking, the company and its Web site quickly fell from grace. Now it's hoping that a combination of site improvements and a newly granted patent--with others waiting in the wings--can help it get back into the fray...

Critics worry that besides conferring some bragging rights, the patent or others that Friendster might be awarded also could provide some legal leverage to the company if it decides at some point to sue rivals...

Whether Friendster ever does decide to sue may depend on improvements the company is making to the Web site itself, and how well those go over with Internet users. Any business hoping to find success as a social-networking venue has to contend with a crowded field, dominated by MySpace but burbling as well with a variety of new sites...

full article: http://news.com.com/New+lease+on+life+fo...=nefd.lede