Lawsuit Alleges Facebook's Founder Built The Site With Stolen Code and Ideas
from the we-want-some-money dept
ScaredOfTheMan wrote in with the news that a lawsuit alleging Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg stole the original code for the site is coming to a head. Zuckerberg worked as a programmer for another social-networking site, now called ConnectU, while a student at Harvard, and the sites founders allege that during that time, Zuckerberg took ConnectU's design, source code and business plan, and turned them into Facebook. If he actually did steal the business plan, you sort of have to wonder why Facebook is now being mentioned as a billion-dollar buyout target, while ConnectU remains pretty much anonymous. While this dispute originally began back in 2004, it's taken on added urgency as Facebook has become more popular, and those high-dollar buyout and IPO rumors build -- particularly as the ConnectU founders want full control of Facebook turned over to them. A judge will rule on July 25 on Facebook's motion to dismiss the case, but it's hard to believe that will be the end of the matter. As long as huge amounts of money continue to swirl around the social-networking space, so too will the lawsuits.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: social networking
Companies: facebook connectu
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Facebook Stole Idea
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Re: Facebook Stole Idea
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Re: Facebook Stole Idea
They would have to prove that the source code from the website was plagiarized (word for word)in order to make that statement stick. And good luck trying to sue him for stealing a business plan.
AND the dependents in this case are suing for Facebook to be shut down AND the entire Facebook business be turned over to them, which will NEVER happen so they are fighting a losing battle.
Did he steal the code? Well I find it hard to believe a 23-year-old could come up with 100% of the code, design, and business plan for a website as huge as Facebook. And it does seem awfully convenient that he worked for a company that did just this. Is he guilty of stealing someone elses' idea? Morally, sure, but legally? I don't think so.
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Facebook started and got big as a college only website. not sure if you had to be 18, but you had to be a college student or graduate, which means you pretty much had to be 18. they only started letting anyone join when mysapce got really huge - money. Alot of facebook users got pissed (they had groups with millions of people saying they would leave if they did it). Facebook was (and still somewhat is) the cleaner, profesional myspace. As to why ConnectU is not big as myspace....meh..... HE STOLE THIER IDEA. If ConnectU came out first and grabbed all the momentum and users, and facebook started after with the same idea, you would be saying "facebook? wtf? ConnectU is kooler and so mch WAYY better!!1".
Now can you kind of comprehend what they are suing for? ...no? cool, forget about it, now go check your myspace, i think you have a new friend request from xXlonleykarenXx
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LOL
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If Mark Z. signed a non-disclosure and IP contract of any kind he'll be judged against the letter of that contract -- which could protect the business plan as well.
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He's a sack of shit thief.
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Feasible
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So sure Mark might have been part of ConnectU. But the project was going no where. At that point it is Mark's right to go his own way. Oh, and even at ConnectU, from what I understand Mark was brought into the team as the main developer.
Really beats me how much code ConnectU could really have and how much(if any!) Mark used to launch initial FB. IP-wise I don't these clowns will win any points in court for such a vague idea.
Then again, if I was in their shoes seeing a buddy go from zero to bil for something I helped inspire, I'd do everything to force some pocket change out of him. Or not.
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Lawsuit alleges Facebook Founder
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Too late...
Yeah, if Mark created Facebook while on the clock at ConnectU then he might be in deep doo-doo. However, aside from that, I fail to see where ConnectU is coming from. Facebook and ConnectU seem nothing alike aside from both being social networks. Overlaps in code would probably be coincidence since many social network functions are essentially the same and should not be patentable "discoveries" of any kind. :P
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re: facebook stole idea
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facebook founder
I am looking for people who want to prove Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is not the facebook creator, email me
Stillett@hotmail.co.uk
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