Money doesn't seem to be an object for Facebook, which declined to comment, heading into its sky-high market debut next month. But money may also not be the concern from Morin, who reportedly turned down $100 million offer from Google (GOOG) last year.
What Facebook would do with Path is another question entirely. It could shut it down, like it has acquisitions past, and try to take back the hours of user engagement that had been siphoned off. (Path claims it can coexist with Facebook. The two companies already have contacts integrations, for instance.) Or it can let Path grow separately, like it has pledged with Instagram. "The trick is, even if you're a big company, how do you keep it small?" says Saffo."The smart thing would be to let something like Path grow."
What's certain is that Path is likely to remain attractive. It already has potentially lucrative assets, including coveted and sophisticated patents that Path likely has because of its design edge, says Saffo. A deal with Facebook though? "There are probably only two people who know the answer to that," says Saffo. "But it is definitely what makes the story all the more interesting."
