Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ... Discussion Topic @ AdlandPro Community

Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 20:16:26 GMT

Hello all. No this is not a joke. It seems the website Friendsters has filed a patent for what drives social networking.

This was passed onto me by a reliable source so I urge everyone to read this.

Wow. Friendster Patents Social Networking - breaking news from Red Herring. What a strange thing to patent. Beyond the buzz of irate people who hate Friendster, I am stuck sifting through the blogosphere trying to find insights on “what’s next”.

Digging through the posts and comments, I found one person who noted that in order to infringe on their patent, ALL parts of the patent need to be duplicated. A key component in the patent is the way people connect.

From US Patent 7,069,308

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 reason this is so important to me is that a big part of the ultimate goal of eSelfHelp.com is to build a community component. I had initially intended to connect members via a six degrees of separation way of introduction. Now it seems as though I will have to rework that plan.

Great questions being raised in the blogosphere include:

Can Friendster really lay claim to inventing online social networking?
Is the US Patent process really serving the needs of our in-person social networks by granting such a broad-based and general patent?
What will Friendster do with this newly obtained patent? Will they use it offensively - going after their competitors, or defensively, as a way to boost their value as a company?
And my own question to add is in the end, if Friendster is able to elimiate their competitors, what happens to the real people behind these already established social networks? Does anyone really think that just because the technology is now “owned”, that these people will stop socializing?

One of the major concerns I have been reading about today is in regards to how much this patent will likely hamper innovation. I see it as the exact opposite. With no alterative, people WILL find new ways to interact online. People will always find ways to connect with each other - it’s in our evolutionary blood. Perhaps Friendster is going to make it a bit more difficult to get the new networks established, but I have no doubt they WILL be established.

For now, I am simply left to ponder my own new way to connect individuals who have a passion for self help and helping each other.

Tags: Friendster, Friendster Patent, Social Networking, Online Communities, Internet Community, Patents

From the blog eMomsAtHome at: http://emomsathome.com/blog/2006/07/10/friendster-patents-social-networking/

We need to keep an eye on this for sure.

Kenneth R Sword Jr

Created By: sword2drum

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 21:46:58 GMT

Hello Kenneth,

This is serious!! I will help by spreading the word too.

Great Thread and Subject.

Thank you so much for helping and keep your friends informed.

Your Friend,

Created By: Lisa111068

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 22:08:00 GMT

Hello Ken,
I have to confess that I do not understand too much of it!
It should be the late hour and because I'm a bit tired by now!
I'll read it again tomorrow maybe it will be different for my "little" brrrain! LOL

I've posted an invite with your message!
Hope it helps.
With friendship,
Anamaria

Created By: anamaria

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 21:59:08 GMT

Hi Kenneth,

I'm reading the patent now. Usually patent is related to specific process not to the abstract concept. Networking and communities have been there for ages before the internet. What I believe they have patented is the way how relationship between members is represented in computers and how this can be used to search for users.

Amazon has a patent on affiliate programs. This has not affected anyone.

Bogdan

Created By: adland

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 22:29:38 GMT

Hello Bogdan,

That you for the insight. I know there are a few 'other' businesses that do use this method being described (for example: Linked In) and they are doing the same as you; looking at the patent.

There is a discussion going on in a blogging group about this very subject. And some are looking into the laws at how patents can affect previous concepts that were not patented before. This is a big question and at least all people should be aware.

There have been cases where patents were recieved on something and even though it was in practice/use before the patent the patent owner became controller and either asked for royalties from those in earlier practices, took over the practicing entity or sued and shut them down.

A bigger question floating among those blogging is will Friendsters take over and become a monopoly in the social networking arena. Sounds like something Google would do.

Thank you for your time on this.

Kenneth R Sword Jr

Created By: sword2drum

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:09:32 GMT

Kenneth,

Thanks for post.
Have to confess, I haven't read the complete context of the Patent,
but i feel confident those who want to social network will, in spite of barriers.

Someone always comes up with a better mousetrap.

The thing that is a real concern to the Networker, who is earning an Income, in the US is the FTC proposed regulation we have discussed previously.

Here again is excerpt from MLM Watchdog.

It si strange how few of the several 100's of Thousands Networks have responded.

ONLY 5 DAYS to GO

Here are links etc. from MLM Watchdog

COMMENTS TO FTC.... DAMNED POOR SHOWING – YOU ARE BUSTED!

WHERE IS YOUR NAME?

6 July 2006 – I am sickened by the poor response by good MLMers...... we should have over a million comments in to the FTC defending our industry! When this is being published there are only 1527 comments mailed in and posted. FEDEX YOURS OR JUST QUIT THE MLM BUSINESS! IS THE BEST WE CAN DO OUT OF 13 MILLION OF US? SEE LETTER BELOW - GET YOURS IN! SEE LETTER BELOW - GET LETTER IN FEDEX..

http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/businessopprule/index.htm

GOOD FILL IN THE BLANKS LETTER TO THE FTC – 3 MINUTES AND MAIL ASAP

http://www.mlm-dra.org/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=61&PN=1

Created By: 290975

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 22:08:53 GMT

This will tremendously hurt networking,what can we do?It is like taking one of our freedom`s.Iam upset about this,this is how we earn a living.......How could they?
Created By: 299660

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:15:58 GMT

Thanks for the info That is need to know information for all of us on the internet. If the gov. and selfish people like this keep getting their way we will have to sign to by food .and post the ticket in the News Paper. I hope it stops soon and they let us do our thing and leave us alone

KATIE

Created By: bizykatie

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:34:11 GMT

Hi, Kenneth:

Thanks for the invitation. This is a great post, but I dont think this is aimed at the users, but instead, at the ISPs and the techniques and services that they provide when allowing us to connect to one another.

I've been online chatting for over 10 years now and I really cant see anyone trying to control people from talking, exchanging ideas, or anything else. So, I think networking is safe.

My fear is that ISPs may have to pay the patent holder some sort of fee for using this process and that THAT cost will get passed down to us, resulting in higher monthly charges for using the internet.

This is definitely something to keep an eye on. Thanks, again, for the "heads up".

Miracles & Blessings,

Robin

Created By: Hazelize41

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 03:41:55 GMT

hi,

i'm not sure i understand all this. they can, i'm sure, patent their own site, but how can you patent what hasn't been said yet? am i missing something here?

nan

Created By: nanonmyway

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 04:04:30 GMT

I should have known something was terribly wrong with Friendster.

One of the senators from my state, an ultra liberal, is a member of Friendster. They posted the state they represent in their profile and spelled the state they represent incorrectly!

Created By: 3Nails

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:10:13 GMT

Hey THANKS for the quote! Glad you heard it from me! :)

To clarify, the patent applies to the WAY people connect in the social network. Specifically, via a 'friend of a friend' or 'six degrees of separation'. So social networks are NOT under fire - just the few that require introductions via people who know people, who know people... MySpace and LinkedIn are likely the largest sites at risk with this kind of social networking model.

So I panicked a bit at first until I made that distinction, and there are so many ways to create a social network without that component... so this isn't quite as threatening to social networking as it seems at first blush.

It's such an interesting conversation to track on the boards and blogs - with so many views and ideas floating around... I stick to my original conclusion: this kind of thing can and will stimulate more creative ways for people to connect online. It's a primary human need to connect - we WILL find a way!

Created By: eMom

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 18:57:50 GMT

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for bringing it to the forefront. I am still wanting to study this more. I did read within how the patent covers future 'technologies' of social linking that doen't require to be wired to the 'net'. Causes more questions to me.

Thanks for coming by.

Kenneth R Sword Jr

Created By: sword2drum

Re :Social Networking/Network Marketing May Come To An End Soon ...

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:42:22 GMT

Hello Kenneth,

Thank you for inviting me...In my opinion (and many of yours in this forum), networking between people is forever and cannot just stop with one regulation. What I think: people try to set up rules on the Internet (if it is ever possible) because of the scams and how unresponsible ones take advantage of honest people. I hope somebody will find a resolution for this one.

Created By: 306617