eHarmony has reduced it all to a few equations, or at least a 'method and system' so I guess all the umptyump millions being invested in social networking and dating companies are being thrown away.

Rachel Konrad

[from The Seattle Times]

This month eHarmony.com received U.S. Patent No. 6,735,568, which describes a "method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship."

Not surprisingly, critics and competitors trash eHarmony's process as overly scientific -- some dismissing the so-called "love patent" as gimmicky.

Oh no, no gimmicks. But patenting successful online relationships? I will have to readt the patent, I suppose, but this is too much.