Friendster

San Francisco-based Friendster has won a patent for online social networks. The patent was filed in 2003, and was awarded on June 27th. Friendster’s founder Jonathan Abrams is listed as the inventor, and the patent covers a “system, method, and apparatus for connecting users in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks.” The main claim is the “degrees of separation” idea that has been implemented by business networks like LinkedIn.

from mashable