Law suits can be fun and none moreso that over claims that someone who has become wealthy based on an idea or a widget or some such thing stole that thing. The Facebook claims, however, take it to a new level of corporate intrigue:
In September 2004, the ConnectU trio filed a claim that Zuckerberg stole their idea and dragged out their site's launch so he could complete Facebook first. He was not paid, they said, but was a full member of their team and would have reaped any future rewards. Facebook countersued, charging ConnectU with defamation. Zuckerberg has said ConnectU asked him to do about six hours of work, and any delays were because he got bogged down by his studies.I wonder if the counterclaim also mentions that Zuckerman, the Facebook wiz kid, was also bogged down with teen angst over being the geek who never gets the chicks and that that kept him from being of any use at the time. Should be easy enough to prove one way or another, however, as even if there is no theft in an idea, there is if the copyrighted code of another was lifted without colour of right. But can "a team" hold that copoyright?
Comments
Mike - July 25, 2007 7:46 am
I say the side with the most Friends wins.
Alan - July 25, 2007 8:26 am
I am starting to get "friend" requests from people I did not know or did not like if I did. It sullies the whole thing.
Mike - July 25, 2007 10:31 am
I think they should add an 'Enemies' feature as well.
Alan - July 25, 2007 10:52 am
It goes to the very core of the digital social network fraud, that comment does, Mike. You should brace yourself. But your point is true and you should stick by it. What I really want is a spectrum or even some sort of X-Y axis continuum whereby you can identify how long ago you knoew the person and how much you actually liked them.
Gordo - July 25, 2007 11:30 am
Wouldn't that be the "Top Friends" app, Al? I haven't tried it, but it strikes me as something along those lines.
Alan - July 25, 2007 11:53 am
But in life, I have no "top friends". It is an unknown term. I have friends, acquaintances, people I know, people I know and don't care much for, people who are a pain in the ass and hazy bot-like entities who leave comments on blogs. Each of these needs its own classification and unique set of permissions in relation to access and reference to me.
Gordo - July 25, 2007 4:18 pm
Truth be told, I have a bit of an issue with the "Friend" designation on Facebook. The simple fact of meeting/going to school with/being my nephew doesn't necessarily make you my friend.
My rule of thumb is thus: An acquaintance will help you move; a friend will help you move a body. Whether folks are willing to admit it or not, almost nobody has dozens of friends. :-)
Ben (The Tiger) - July 25, 2007 11:30 pm
Perhaps your friends are more giving, Gordo -- I've always said that a friend will help you move, and a good friend will help you move a body...
Facebook friends, though -- I have somewhere north of 200. That's totally not a reflection of reality. At least, reflections other than from funhouse mirrors...
Jay Currie - July 26, 2007 2:38 pm
Every time I look at facebook/myspace I am reminded of how rare actual friends are. I suppose that's what SecondLife is for - an entirely invented reality populated by avatars rather than the friendly dweeb who ran your highschool's A/V club.
(Of course it is a measure of how much time I spend online that, when I refer to "x" as "my friend x", my partner will ask if I have ever, you know, physically met the person in question. In at least 50% of the cases I haven't.)
Alan - July 26, 2007 2:44 pm
I suppose I have met a bunch of you but, with respect, that does not a friend make.