Recently, Facebook has been awarded with the patent to send information on a social network through its news feed feature. The patent does not include status updates but rather the “implicit feed stories.” “In the most basic terms, this means Facebook has patented technology that delivers the stuff filling up your news feed like shared links, videos and Wall posts.” Awarding this patent to Facebook threatens the social landscape in which social media is delivered. If Facebook desired to protect its patent they could control the way social media is presented in the social realm.
Software patents should not be awarded because most software is derived from other patented technologies. Giving a company so much power over social media is a mistake. Such a broad patent does not help in the free expression of ideas, but rather let one company control how social media is transmitted. I do not see Facebook protecting its intellectual property rights anytime soon. If they are presented with a social network that rivals them in every aspect of there offerings, they will protect their rights. When this comes to pass we will see if this patent can withstand scrutiny.
