The New York Times reported again about the Winklevoss twins' ongoing dispute with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg today, and it is apparent the traction a meritless claim can make when a party is wealthy, part of the Ivy League and photogenic. I like the Times, and it is part of my daily ritual, but it's starting to look like "People/US/celebrity rag" reporting. To the point, the Winklevoss' aren't news anymore. The technology innovation that happens all around the world is rife with stories similar to this, and even in the rarefied environment of intellectual property protection here in the US, the Winklevoss' have no claim. The significant settlement reached is clearly the product of Facebook's efforts to put it past them, but I wouldn't have done that deal. I'm sure that there are facts and client interests that I'm not privy to, but just because the Winklevoss' had an idea - an idea borne by thousands - doesn't provide a claim. An important tenant of US IP law is that ideas aren't protectable. And the windfall settlement - now estimated to be worth $140 million is scandalous by any measure.
Perhaps this is a ploy by the Twins to land yet another lottery ticket - a reality show based upon privileged people who are simply unaccustomed to being the center of attention. I guess that we'll simply have to wait, unless some other crafty Hollywood reality show producer has stolen the notion and already started casting....
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