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Harvard Winklevoss twins stuck with Facebook settlement

Harvard Winklevoss twins stuck with Facebook settlement
AP

(CBS/AP) SAN FRANCISCO - The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the Winklevoss twins, former Harvard University schoolmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, can't undo their settlement over creation of the social networking site.

The federal court said Monday that Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss were savvy enough to understand what they were agreeing to when they signed the agreement in 2008. The deal called for a $20 million cash payment and a partial ownership of Facebook. A third classmate, Divya Narendra, was part of the settlement with the twins but did not pursue the second lawsuit seeking to undo the agreement.

Monday's ruling upholds a lower court decision enforcing the settlement which during six years of litigation  grew so contentious that the dispute was dramatized in the Oscar-nominated film "The Social Network."

The settlement is now worth more than $160 million because of Facebook's increased valuation.

The twins had alleged they were misled about Facebook's value when they agreed to settle their lawsuit that claimed Zuckerberg stole their idea to launch Facebook.

"At some point, litigation must come to an end," chief justice Alex Kozinksi wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel "That point has now been reached."

5 ways the Facebook twins can blow their $160 million

The twins alleged they were misled into believing the company was worth $35.90 a share because of an investment by Microsoft Corp. But they argued that Microsoft later valued Facebook at $8.88 for tax purposes. The twins argue they would have demanded more stock in the company based on the lower valuation.

Kozinski said the twins were "sophisticated parties" when they agreed to the settlement during a mediation meeting.

"They brought half-a-dozen lawyers to the mediation," Kozinksi wrote.

Facebook said Monday it was pleased by the ruling. Lawyers for the Winklevoss twins said they are reviewing the decision and have not decided on their next step. The twins could ask the Supreme Court to consider the case.

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