Social networking site pioneer Friendster has received a patent on their social networking software.

In the patent, issued on June 27, social networking is referred to as a "system, method, and appartus for connecting suers in an online computer system based on their relationships within social networks." Friendster filed for the patent in June 2003, well before social networking sites like MySpace arrived on the 'net. The patent could give Friendster the power to charge licensing fees.

Friendster follows Sixdegrees.com in receiving a patent on social networking software. Sixdegrees was granted a patent in 2001, four years after it initially filed. The patent has been sold twice since--to now-defunct Youthstream Media Networks and most recently to LinkIn.com.

Recently, Friendster launched a new plan to re-focus its site on "post-college users, young urban adults looking to connect to people in new cities." The site will focus less on surfing profiles and more on users' activities. Says Friendster President Kent Lindstrom, "In the end, people will end up using Friendster because the design is good and it runs fast. So we've been focusing on responding to what users are asking for."