Facebook sued over 'Like' button by Dutch firm that claims it patented by programmer in the 1990s The widow of a Dutch computer programmer is suing Facebook over its trademarked "like" button, claiming her husband invented the technology back in the 1990s. The unnamed widow of Joannes Jozef Everadus van Der Meer claims that the social media giant used two of Mr van Der Meer's patents without first obtaining her permission. She claims that her husband held the patents as early as 1998. Dislike: The widow of Dutch programmer Joannes Jozef Everadus van Der Meer claims that the social media giant used two of his patents without first obtaining permission BBC News reports that Rembrandt Social Media, which holds the patent on the technology, is acting on the widow's behalf. Facebook said that it does not comment on current litigation. According to BBC News, Mr van Der Meer created a social network called Surfbook, but died in 2004. Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook from his Harvard dorm room that same year. The lawsuit claims that the programmer had developed the "like" technology as early as 1998. It further claims that Surfbook allowed its users to a "like" button to approve data. Social network: The lawsuit claims that Surfbook, Mr van Der Meer's website, allowed its users to a 'like' button to approve data The plaintiff also alleges that Facebook actively knew of these technologies. Rembrandt's attorney, Tom Melsheimer, told Ars Technica that Mr van Der Meer "really created the concept of a diary on the Internet." It was the beginnings of what we would say is social networking,' he said.