05-09-2006, 07:30 AM
Wal-Mart is attempting to trademark the smiley face. 
 Cingular wireless is attempting to trademark emoticons. 
 If this trend continues, pretty soon smiling will be forbidden unless you pay a royalty to some 
corporation. :'(
full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4984138.stm
related topic:
A Sad Day For Smiley Lovers Everywhere: Cingular Wireless Patenting the Emoticon
http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...379.0.html
 Cingular wireless is attempting to trademark emoticons.  If this trend continues, pretty soon smiling will be forbidden unless you pay a royalty to some corporation. :'(Quote:Wal-Mart seeks smiley face rights
Wal-Mart is embroiled in a legal dispute over the smiley face image which it wants to trademark in the US.
A Frenchman who claims to have invented the yellow smiley face back in 1968 is opposing the US retail giant's move.
For some, the image is a reminder of 1970s counter-culture, for others, a useful shorthand when sending e-mails.
But since 1996, Wal-Mart has used the image in the US on uniforms and promotional signs, and it wants sole rights to it in the US retail sector...
full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4984138.stm
related topic:
A Sad Day For Smiley Lovers Everywhere: Cingular Wireless Patenting the Emoticon
http://community.tuliptools.com/index.ph...379.0.html