Interesting Facebook patent

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I know that many here follow technology and that at least a few work in or around the patent area. Facebook received a patent this week that looks like it could have broad ramifications on the social media industry. The text only version of the patent can be viewed here. If you want to see the full patent including figures, you can get it for free at http://free.patentfetcher.com/Patent-Fetcher-Form.php (just use 7,669,123 as the patent number).

The main debate, I suppose will be on whether or not this is a new invention. If the invention was new in Aug. 2005 (one year before the earliest date, which in this case is the filing date) then there is a good chance it will survive (well, it isn't that simple, but I am not a lawyer and can't speak to all the factors).

Let the legal shenanigans begin!