Tag Archives: social network

Like This: Facebook Sued Over Dead Man’s Patent

No sir, I do not bite by thumb at you, sir

Mark Zuckerberg is no stranger to a lawsuit. This time, Rembrandt Social Media is claiming that Facebook’s use of a “Like” button infringes upon a patent created in 1998 by a currently deceased Dutch programmer. The brain behind social media giant Facebook, has time and time again had to defend his creation from a multitude of people who would like their piece of the pie. The new suit, filed in a Virginia court on behalf Joannes Jozef Everardus van Der Meer, revolves around a failed social media network known as Surfbook, which involved the idea of pressing a “like” button to show approval. The like button is a central idea powering Facebook that allows users to interact with a simple click instead of actually commenting on a post or picture. Read More

Care to Share: Who Owns Your Instagram Pics?

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Picture problem

You might think twice before uploading your next picture. There is a class-action lawsuit has been filed against Instagram in regards to their newly updated Terms of Service. The photo-sharing company recently announced a change in their TOS that, in some eyes, relinquishes their users’ ownership of personal photographs they chose to upload. In theory, the Facebook-owned company would be able to use any added pictures and images to promote their own brand. The civil suit, based out of Northern California, contends that the pictures’ rights should be retained by the photographer and technically do not belong to Instagram. These proposed changes are scheduled to take effect early in 2013 and include the company’s advertising access to any personal information given by the end user.

Closing the Book on the Facebook Lawsuit

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De-friended!

There’s a pretty good chance that Mark Zuckerberg had already de-friended Paul Ceglia. In a recent decision, Ceglia has officially been indicted after faking evidence against Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. The original lawsuit, which came about in 2010, stems from the fact that in 2003, Ceglia altered contracts co-signed by Zuckerberg in an attempt to give himself 50% share of the company. Authorities had arrested the internet entrepreneur in October on charges centered around issues relating to the lawsuit. Ceglia was guilty of mail fraud, wire fraud, and also attempts at tampering with and destroying evidence. He currently faces up to 20 years in jail per criminal charge. Read more