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"... real sleazebag or a complete idiot" is a bit harsh. He was young and naive. Who isn't at 18? Zuckerberg was born May 14, 1984. This contract was signed

"... real sleazebag or a complete idiot" is a bit harsh. He was young and naive. Who isn't at 18? Zuckerberg was born May 14, 1984. This contract was signed April 28, 2003. He was 18 years old. If this contract had been signed a year earlier, it wouldn't matter because Zuckerberg would have been too young to be a party to it. Even though he was old enough to contract, I doubt Zuckerberg understood the implications of that contract (assuming it's real.) Ceglia probably didn't either.

epochwolf 16y ago
> If this contract had been signed a year earlier, it wouldn't matter because Zuckerberg would have been too young to be a party to it. Incorrect. A 17 year old can sign a contract, they just have the option of voiding the contract until they turn 18. (Which is why most people avoid signing contracts with minors.) Once they turn 18 they no longer have the option of voiding the contract. There may be a period you can dispute the contract while 18 but not indefinitely. I don't remember all the details but I do know that contracts signed with minors are valid just very risky for you.
timr 16y ago
I'll grant that the "idiot" part is less damning, for exactly the reasons you mention -- maybe it's possible that he was young and naïve, and maybe it was possible that he could overlook the potentially dramatic consequences of signing that contract. But honestly? If you're precocious enough to be taking investments from strangers to build a business, you're precocious enough to read and understand a simple contract. I'm not inclined to give much sympathy on the basis of ignorance. As for the sleazebag count, I'm not sympathetic at all. If it turns out that Zuckerberg did sign the contract in good faith, and that he did subsequently ignore it when Facebook blew up, that's pretty crooked. Maybe you can argue that he simply forgot about the contract, but that goes back to idiocy -- wouldn't you remember the guy who gave you $1,000 to buy a 50% stake in your company? No, something is fishy here, and if the contract is real and not signed under duress it doesn't speak well to his judgment. Considering the history of claims against him, I'm not willing to assume that Zuckerberg is a boy business genius while simultaneously forgiving huge legal gaffes like this one.

epochwolf 16y ago

> If this contract had been signed a year earlier, it wouldn't matter because Zuckerberg would have been too young to be a party to it. Incorrect. A 17 year old can sign a contract, they just have the option of voiding the contract until they turn 18. (Which is why most people avoid signing contracts with minors.) Once they turn 18 they no longer have the option of voiding the contract. There may be a period you can dispute the contract while 18 but not indefinitely. I don't remember all the details but I do know that contracts signed with minors are valid just very risky for you.

timr 16y ago

I'll grant that the "idiot" part is less damning, for exactly the reasons you mention -- maybe it's possible that he was young and naïve, and maybe it was possible that he could overlook the potentially dramatic consequences of signing that contract. But honestly? If you're precocious enough to be taking investments from strangers to build a business, you're precocious enough to read and understand a simple contract. I'm not inclined to give much sympathy on the basis of ignorance. As for the sleazebag count, I'm not sympathetic at all. If it turns out that Zuckerberg did sign the contract in good faith, and that he did subsequently ignore it when Facebook blew up, that's pretty crooked. Maybe you can argue that he simply forgot about the contract, but that goes back to idiocy -- wouldn't you remember the guy who gave you $1,000 to buy a 50% stake in your company? No, something is fishy here, and if the contract is real and not signed under duress it doesn't speak well to his judgment. Considering the history of claims against him, I'm not willing to assume that Zuckerberg is a boy business genius while simultaneously forgiving huge legal gaffes like this one.