Tim,
> It dawned on me, what is to stop Redmond from patenting studying social
> networks based on link relationships, or so many methods therein that
> they can hold coin over anyone that makes products based on this
> research? In other words, if you research, you pay Microsoft if you plan
> to publish your work because your method was 'similar' to theirs.
I don't think anyone on this list is capable of answering your
questions. Try SFLC?
--Josh