1. A method for maintaining ownership rights to relationships in a social network, the method comprising: storing relationship capital data that identifies a plurality of relationships between entities, a given one of said relationships being between a first entity and a second entity and being owned by said first entity; receiving a communication that indicates that a third entity wishes to contact said second entity; searching said relationship capital data, wherein said searching yields a path from said third entity to said second entity via said first entity, and wherein said path includes a direct link from said third entity to said first entity; preventing said third entity from accessing said given one of said relationships; sending a request to said first entity to facilitate an introduction between said third entity and said second entity; receiving a response from said first entity; and sending a communication to said third entity that identifies said first entity, only if said response indicates an approval of said request.