Friendster Patent on Linking

WSJ.COM — July 27 — Friendster could wind up making enemies among its peers. Last month it was awarded a patent related to searching for people online based on their relationships and it expects another patent to come through soon that covers technology that lets users upload their own content, like photos, onto a friend's page. "We want to protect our intellectual property," says Kent Lindstrom, Friendster's president. "We're evaluating what we should do. The attorneys we've talked to say the patent is very strong." Lawyers are encouraging Friendster to consider "taking people out from a litigation standpoint." But he says he is also weighing less extreme approaches, like asking for patent-licensing fees or not taking any legal action at all.  Friendster is overhauling its management team and has modified its strategy.

The full article was originally published at WSJ, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: I'm looking forward to seeing Friendster make a comeback with Kent at the helm. Kent was one of the original investors and earliest advisor to Jonathan, from when he was still working out of his apartment.