3 ms·

If buying patents proves nothing, what proves Zuckerberg invented Facebook? What, in your mind, proves anything?

• stanleydrew 16y ago
  Nothing proves that he "invented" facebook, depending on how you interpret the word "invented." The fact that he still runs the company indicates that he built facebook. And if you consider inventing and building to be synonymous then he invented facebook. The line from the movie is tautological for a reason, and it actually makes an interesting point about software patents. It's using the word "invented" in the "created/built" sense: essentially, "if you had invented facebook, you would have created facebook." You can't separate the idea from the execution of the idea. Interpreting facebook's buying of patents from friendster as evidence they didn't "invent" the product kind of misses the point.
  • chopsueyar 16y ago
    I do not consider inventing and building synonyms, because they are not. If you want to use words as variables, my all means, go ahead. What is the point? "You can't separate the idea from the execution of the idea." It is separate, and has been demonstrated by numerous companies.
    • stanleydrew 16y ago
      Words are variables. They have different meanings to different people. The idea of a chair and the execution of building a chair are indeed separate. But I challenge you to fully specify every aspect of a software product without building it first. There are so many intricacies and connections that don't become clear until it's actually built. Anyway this has gotten pretty far off topic so we should probably stop.
      • chopsueyar 16y ago
        so we should probably stop. Agreed.