I see on Slashdot that Friendster (never heard of them) recently was granted a patent covering online social networks. Sound broad — it is. The actual patent itself reads: “system, method, and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks.” Well, that covers quite a bit. Anyway, here’s the article: http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=17498&hed=Friendster+Wins+Patent
–TR