₦airaland Forum

Facebook is facing legal action over its use of the "like" button and other features of the social network.


t is being sued by a patent-holding company acting on behalf of a dead Dutch programmer called Joannes Jozef Everardus van Der Meer.

Rembrandt Social Media said Facebook's success was based, in part, on using two of Mr Van Der Meer's patents without permission.

Facebook said it had no comment to make on the lawsuit or its claims.

A lawsuit has been filed in a federal court in Virginia by Rembrandt Social Media.

"We believe Rembrandt's patents represent an important foundation of social media as we know it, and we expect a judge and jury to reach the same conclusion based on the evidence," said lawyer Tom Melsheimer from legal firm Fish and Richardson, which represents the patent holder.

Rembrandt now owns patents for technologies Mr Van Der Meer used to build a fledgling social network, called Surfbook, before his death in 2004.

Mr Van Der Meer was granted the patents in 1998, five years before Facebook first appeared.

Surfbook was a social diary that let people share information with friends and family and approve some data using a "like" button, according to legal papers filed by Fish and Richardson.

The papers also say Facebook is aware of the patents as it has cited them in its own applications to patent some social networking technologies.


http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21411622

Source:

http://cnnmobile.com/primary/fullarticle?topic=newsarticle&category=intl&articleId=cnn/2013/02/11/world/europe/pope-benedict-resignation#page2

What do you think of Pope's decision?




The spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI, surprised the world Monday by saying he will resign at the end of the month "because of advanced age."

It's the first time a pope has stepped down in nearly 600 years.

"Strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me," said Benedict, 85, according to the Vatican.

The news startled and shocked the Catholic world and led to frenzied speculation about who would replace him.

Analysts and experts immediately began debating the merits of naming a pontiff from the developing world, where the church continues to grow, versus one from Europe, where it has deep historical roots.

Cardinals will meet to choose Benedict's successor sometime after his official resignation on February 28, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said at a news conference.

"Before Easter, we will have the new pope," he said.

Benedict won't be involved in the decision, Lombardi said. But his influence will undoubtedly be felt. Benedict appointed 67 of the 118 cardinals who will make the decision.

CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen said that means the next pope, no matter where he is from, will probably continue in Benedict's conservative tradition, which has seen the church take a firm line on issues such as abortion, birth control and divorce.

The pope, born Joseph Ratzinger, is likely to retire to a monastery and devote himself to a life of reflection and prayer, Lombardi said. He won't be involved in managing the church after his resignation.

In a sign of just how rare an event this is, church officials aren't sure what the pope will be called after he leaves the office.

One possibility, Allen said, is "bishop emeritus of Rome."

Read the full text of Pope Benedict XVI's declaration

Resignation

Benedict will become the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. In that case, Gregory quit to end a civil war within the church in which more than one man claimed to be pope.

In this case, it wasn't external forces but the ravages of time that forced Benedict's hand. After months of consideration, he concluded he just wasn't up to the job anymore, Lombardi said.

"It's not a decision he has just improvised," Lombardi said. "It's a decision he has pondered over."

Benedict had been thinking about resigning for some time because of his age, a family friend in Regensburg, Germany, told CNN on Monday. He has discussed the resignation with his older brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, according to the friend, who asked not to be named because he does not speak for Georg Ratzinger.

Several years ago, Benedict had suggested he would be open to resigning should his health fail, Allen said. But no one expected him to do so this soon, he said.

According to Lombardi, Benedict will step down as pope at 8 p.m. on February 28 in Rome, then head for the pope's summer residence. He will probably move to a monastery in the Vatican after that, Lombardi said.

After the resignation takes effect, cardinals will gather in Rome to select a successor. It takes at least two-thirds plus one of the 118 voting cardinals to elect a new leader for the church.

Benedict announced his resignation just before the start of the church's Lenten season, which begins with Ash Wednesday.

"We must trust in the mighty power of God's mercy. We are all sinners, but His grace transforms us and makes us new," Benedict said Sunday on Twitter, which the pope's office joined only in December.

Talk Back: Why is atheism on the rise in America?

Benedict's legacy

Benedict took over as pope in 2005 as the church was facing a number of issues, including declining popularity in parts of the world and a growing crisis over the church's role in handling molestation accusations against priests around the world.

Given his age at the time -- 78 -- he was widely seen as a caretaker pope, a bridge to the next generation following the long reign of John Paul II, a popular, globe-trotting pontiff whose early youth and vigor gave way to such frailty in later years that he required assistance walking and was often hard to hear during public addresses.

As an aide to John Paul, Benedict served as a strict enforcer of his conservative social doctrine. To no one's surprise, he continued to espouse a conservative doctrine after taking the office himself. He frequently warned of a "dictatorship of relativism."

"In a world which he considered relativist and secular and so on, his main thrust was to re-establish a sense of Catholic identity for Catholics themselves," said Delia Gallagher, contributing editor for Inside the Vatican magazine.

Where John Paul wowed crowds around the world with his mastery of numerous languages, Benedict took his training as a college professor to the Vatican and will be seen at his most influential in years to come with his writings, Gallagher said.

Allen called Benedict a "great teaching pope."

Benedict also worked to advance religious freedom and reduce friction among adherents of various faiths, said Bill Donohue of the U.S. Catholic League.

"The pope made it clear that religious freedom was not only a God-given right, it was 'the path to peace,' " Donohue said.

But Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said Benedict's legacy will be mixed.

"His Papacy will be sadly remembered from the Muslim world by his distortion and attack on Islam as he came to the Papacy," Shafiq said in a statement. "This sadly meant the hard work of his predecessor Pope John Paul II was tarnished and required extensive work to rebuild ties between Christianity and Islam. That is something he has tried to do over the past eight years and we do wish it could have started better than it did."

Sex abuse scandal

Benedict became pope at the height of the molestation scandal involving Catholic priests, with complaints of sexual abuse and lawsuits over the issue tearing at the church.

Abusive priests had "disfigured their ministry" and brought "profound shame and regret" on the church, Benedict said in 2010, the same year he issued new rules aimed at stopping abuse.

The rules included allowing church prosecution of suspected molesters for 20 years after the incidents occurred, up from 10 years previously. The rules also made it a church crime to download child pornography and allowed the pope to remove a priest without a formal Vatican trial.

"No one did more to successfully address the problem of priestly sexual abuse than Joseph Ratzinger," Donohue said.

But Barbara Blaine, president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Benedict has not had any significant impact on the issue.

"I would hate for him to be remembered as someone who did the right thing because from our perspective, Pope Benedict's record has been abysmal," she said.

In 2010, The New York Times reported that church officials, including Ratzinger, had failed to act in the case of a Wisconsin priest accused of molesting up to 200 boys. The Times reported that church officials stopped proceedings against the priest after he wrote Ratzinger, who was at the time the cardinal in charge of the group that oversees Catholic Church doctrine.

Ratzinger never answered the letter, according to the Times, and church officials have said he had no knowledge of the situation. But a lawyer who obtained internal church paperwork said at the time that it "shows a direct line from the victims through the bishops and directly to the man who is now pope."

Also in 2010, the Times reported that the future pope -- while serving as the archbishop in Munich -- had been copied on a memo informing him that a priest accused of molesting children was being returned to pastoral work. At the time, a spokesman for the archdiocese said Ratzinger received hundreds of memos a year and it was highly unlikely that he had read it.

In a statement issued Monday, Blaine said the church should choose a new pope dedicated to preventing sexual abuse by priests.

"For the Church to truly embody the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ, it must be led by a pontiff who demands transparency, exposes child-molesting clerics, punishes wrongdoers and enablers, cooperates with law enforcement, and makes true amends to those who were hurt so greatly by Catholic priests, employees and volunteers," Blaine wrote.

Victims' groups are pressing the International Criminal Court to prosecute Benedict in the sex abuse scandal, and say the resignation won't change that, according to Pam Spees, of the public policy law firm Center for Constitutional Rights, which is helping SNAP pursue the case.

World reaction

Benedict's decision surprised world leaders and everyday Catholics.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said the decision "shocked and surprised everyone."

"Yet, on reflection, I am sure that many will recognise it to be a decision of great courage and characteristic clarity of mind and action," he said in a written statement.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, said he was startled, and sad, to see Benedict resign.

"The Holy Father brought the tender heart of a pastor, the incisive mind of a scholar and the confidence of a soul united with His God in all he did," he said in a written statement. "His resignation is but another sign of his great care for the Church."

British Prime Minister David Cameron said Benedict "will be missed as a spiritual leader to millions." Cameron's Irish counterpart, Enda Kenny, praised Benedict for decades of leadership and service, as well as his decision to resign.

"It reflects his profound sense of duty to the Church, and also his deep appreciation of the unique pressures of spiritual leadership in the modern world," Kenny said in a prepared statement.

U.S. President Barack Obama said he and his wife "warmly remember" their 2009 meeting with Benedict, and wished cardinals well as they prepared to choose a successor.

Life before the papacy

Benedict was born Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Marktl Am Inn, Bavaria, a heavily Catholic region of Germany.

He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, near the Austrian border, during the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler.

Ratzinger wrote in his memoirs that school officials enrolled him in the Hitler Youth movement against his will in 1941, when he was 14.

He said he was allowed to leave the organization because he was studying for the priesthood, but was drafted into the army in 1943. He served with an anti-aircraft unit until he deserted in the waning days of WW II.

After the war, he resumed his theological studies and was ordained in 1951. He received his doctorate in theology two years later and taught dogma and theology at German universities for several years.

In 1962, he served as a consultant during the pivotal Vatican II council to Cardinal Frings, a reformer who was the archbishop of Cologne, Germany.

As a young priest, Ratzinger was on the progressive side of theological debates, but began to shift right after the student revolutions of 1968, CNN Vatican analyst Allen said.

In his book "Cardinal Ratzinger: The Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith," Allen says Ratzinger is a shy and gentle person whose former students spoke of him as a well-prepared and caring professor.

Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Munich in 1977 and promoted him to cardinal the next month. Ratzinger served as archbishop of Munich until 1981, when he was nominated by John Paul II to be the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position he held until his election as pope.

He became dean of the College of Cardinals in November 2002 and in that role called the cardinals to Rome for the conclave that elected him the 265th pope.

In his initial appearance as pope, he told the crowd in St. Peter's Square that he would serve as "a simple and humble worker in the vineyards of the Lord."

He was the sixth German to serve as pope, but the first since the 11th century.

Made in nigeria!!!

Made in nigeria!!!!

Football is made in nigeria!!!

Football is made in Nigeria!!!!

Football is made in nigeria!!!

Football is made in nigeria!!!

And so fv kin what?? make we com go jump in side well??
Abi does that add another goal to 3-0 wey naija go trash burkina tomorrow?

O boy!! Abeg weytin patience they torch under wrapper? abi she dey finger herself ni?

What is funny in funke akindele and baba obj pictures now?

Can't stop laughing...gej mad picture with dread lock

Itohan never set foot on turin italy....
The italy guy that aksed itohan to marry her accent English is some how funny.

[quote author=val_dubem]always happy when posts from PICTURE SECTION makes it to the front page.[/quote]Lol. You have changed your post just to buy space...I see....I really hit you Up

Donsax

[quote author=val_dubem]always happy when posts from PICTURE SECTION makes it to the front page.[/quote]What is God here now? All you just type is a senseless post in hurry for you to be first comment madness shits...just 3 letters

Why all of them they come from edo or get get church there

gluv01: I'm in the front row

The girl should enjoy the free salary sha, she can easily open another account with a slightly different name or the nickname she's known for by her friends and re-add her friends without her dad knowing. The dad just gave her free cash thinking he's doing good. This is 21st century o..not 19th century. Smart gurl!

Ha ha...se naija mentality?? You think say na like that oyinbo they do? After agreement she should secretly open a new account..I knew if it were you..that will be your first thought...no wonder corruption is much in Nigeria,after you will be blaming the leaders only .

dammytosh: I still prefer Siasia.


He was fired because he was not licking NFF's a*s*s. Most of his principles that Keshi adhered to are still working for us. Keshi looks like NFF's stooge to me.


I believe he can sha.

Why would you prefer a failure to a winner?

Who is helen posing like first lady ? And why are they lifting only her up? Is she their bread winner

Vikin:
It happened to my younger sister, this one from South Africa came calling to marry my sister. My dad enquiry about his job and he said he was a lecturer in SA.

Anyway, Popsi demanded on the condition that him ( Popsi) wil visit his office in SA before giving out his precious daughter.
The guy demanded for my sister to visit or my dad should google the Internet and find out about the school himself.

Anyway, Popsi said that he will do the visit not his daughter.

It never work out though, she is now with her new hubby.

Poster, parents do this to make sure their children don't go into a marriage that will probably fail or bring trouble to their wards. Especially the Igbo ppl, they believe in marriage is for better for worst. Let him come over to visit your friend, he shouldn't be worried if he has nothing to hide.

Why is everything on many topic always full with this quote *Especially the Igbo ppl* so other tribe marriage is not for better for worst?? Shior!!! Ibo trabalism in nigeria over other tribe is far worst than the racism between the white and the black....always feel superior in all ways somehow.....mtcheew

okpeolofu: They (Boko Haram) will soon become history, dat am assuring all peaceful loving Nigerians

Who are you What would your trust gain for america Are Jonathan? If not america don't give a fv Ck about you and your trust

okpeolofu: They (Boko Haram) will soon become history, dat am assuring all peaceful loving Nigerians

Who are you What would your trust gain for america Are Jonathan? If not america don't give a fv Ck about you and your trust

nairaland.com

Eyah.....Rip.....eagles need to win this cup to appease his soul.

Our Yansh: Can't you see that CAN is trying to fan the embers of hate and religious intolerance??

Has CAN ever condemned the corruption and profligacy that has become the hallmark of the PDP-led FG??

Has CAN ever condemned the FG for failing to deliver it's electoral promises, failing to secure the lives of Nigerians, failing to provide basic infrastructure and failing to fight corruption..??

Didn't you read about the reason why The Catholic church pulled out of CAN??

CAN has become an Instrument of the PDP to be used to fight perceived enemies..

Shame on CAN and the Bling-Bling flaunting thief at the helm of CAN's affair....

Why would can condemn corruption? Should can be involve in politics? Leave papa ori alone jor let the man breath.....I guess you are a catholician...

[quote author=Ejiné]I sabi say no be Drogba dey there again. De man don die out of rage and disappointment.
Na just cover up im dey do [/quote]Shut the fv ck kid!!! Is it today he has been facing defeat?? What's Afcon cup compare to ucl he lost with Chelsea to man u? He understand football game better than any ivorian players ..either you win or loose.

Don't get mad or surprise when you see someone post shits on his twitter..he may not be the actual poster!

Twitter is coming forward as the latest site to be hacked. The social network said in a blog post Friday afternoon that approximately 250,000 user accounts were potentially compromised, with attackers gaining access to information including user names and email addresses.

The company first detected signs of an attack earlier in the week, which led to an investigation and the discovery of a larger breach.

"This week, we detected unusual access patterns that led to us identifying unauthorized access attempts to Twitter user data. We discovered one live attack and were able to shut it down in process moments later," said Bob Lord, Twitter's director of information security, in a post. "However, our investigation has thus far indicated that the attackers may have had access to limited user information

Twitter has reset the passwords and revoked session tokens, which allow you to stay logged into the service without reentering a password, for all of these accounts. Affected users will not be able to log in and will receive an e-mail instructing them to reset their password. The post doesn't go into details about the methods the attackers used, but does refer to a recent Java vulnerability. The Department of Homeland Security recently warned users about the issue and suggested they disable Java in their browsers unless "it is absolutely necessary."

This attack follows major security breaches at the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, which were both attributed to Chinese hackers. The New York Times suspects it was in response to negative coverage of the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and the Journal said evidence pointed to an attempt to "target the monitoring of the Journal's coverage of China." While the Twitter post does not mention China or blame the hacks on any specific country or group, it does mention the newspaper hacks.

"This attack was not the work of amateurs, and we do not believe it was an isolated incident. The attackers were extremely sophisticated, and we believe other companies and organizations have also been recently similarly attacked," said Lord.

A quarter-million accounts is a small segment of Twitter's 200 million monthly active users worldwide. However the company offers tips for all of its users going forward, including using strong passwords that mix numbers and symbols with upper- and lowercase letters, not using the same password for multiple accounts, and disabling Java.
cnnmobile.com/primary/fullarticle?articleId=urn:newsml:CNN.com:20130202:twitter-hacked:1&pagesize=10&category=tech&pageSize=10

Blazzay: Cough-cough!
Errrrrrrrrh. . . the good news is that unlike some NAIRALANDERS WE KNOW. . .MY PARENTS HAVE NOT BURIED ANY OF THEIR CHILDREN. . . .BY TEHN NETWORK OR 'HIRED H-ASSASSINS'!

In other words, we complete gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!

MU EH EH EH EH EH EH

*belches*

WE ARE COMPLETE. . .UNLIKE THESE PEEPS ON NL!

You are a sick kid!! To what is your meaning with this...:how does this related to the topic? So disgusting!!!!