;-) Available For Yearly License Fee Thanks To Russian Trademark

[Barman58]

;-) Available For Yearly License Fee
Thanks To Russian Trademark

Way back in 2001, Despair Inc., makers of the world's greatest calendar (I've got a bunch) trademarked the emoticon :-( and jokingly threatened to sue pretty much everyone. Some folks in the press thought they were serious, and it got into the news. It looks like someone over in Russia is trying to do the same thing... but it's not clear if he's joking. Oleg Teterin, president of some mobile advertising company, not only has received the patent, but says that any business using it, or any similar emoticon, now needs to pay a license fee: "Legal use will be possible after buying an annual licence from us. It won't cost that much - tens of thousands of dollars." He does make clear that he's only talking about businesses using the emoticon, not consumers, but even then some people wonder if this is just a big publicity stunt. Either way, it speaks volumes about the competency of the Russian trademark agency to consider an emoticon that's already in such widespread common usage (and has been for decades) available for trademark protection.

Source ...

Techdirt: ;-) Available For Yearly License Fee Thanks To Russian Trademark

 

[echrada]

Idle hands make mischief!

 

[Barman58]

They seem to be getting the hang of this capitalism thing Bill G would be proud of them

What will they slap a trademark on next?

Answers on a postcard please ...

 

[echrada]

They seem to be getting the hang of this capitalism thing Bill G would be proud of them

What will they slap a trademark on next?

Answers on a postcard please ...

Postcards from Brighton comes to mind!

 

[sassofalco]

What will they slap a trademark on next?

I am immediately applying for Patent Letters, Registration®, Copyrights©, and all other Licence Permits for the following;

, . ; : " ? ! * / // ( )™

:D

 

[echrada]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

How much is that going to cost me, Sassofalco?

 

[sassofalco]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

How much is that going to cost me, Sassofalco?

Typical bloody Scotsman........picked the cheapest on offer!!! They're all yours!

That will be £21-0-0 in George III Gold Sovereigns, and for the Sepoys, ₨2,250,500 in the Maharaja of the Punjab Gold.

So nice to do business with you. An Invoice dated 13 December 1836 is in the Royal Mail. Since it is already well overdue, please pay the Footman immediately on Receipt.

Yours Aye! :D

 

[echrada]

Now I have to time travel to rob a bank?

 

[sassofalco]

Now I have to time travel to rob a bank?

Your Tardus awaits , Sir!


View attachment 8656

Tardus MkII. [MkI disappeared into the time warp. I sincerely hope echrada was not at the controls.]

 

[Joan Archer]

Ah so you're the next Dr Who then sassofalco :D

 

[sassofalco]

Ah so you're the next Dr Who then sassofalco :D

Not at all Dear, :D

Just happened to pick up that Edwardian Model at a UK Government Stores Board auction. Wasn't in bad knick at all but the interior was a bit of a mess, with lurid Brighton 'Calling Cards[?]' stuck all over the place, and it did smell odd!

At the same time I managed to bribe any awfully nice Chap in pin-stripe charcoal-grey suit, wearing a Bowler hat, and carrying a black leather brief-case [the contents of which were rather alarming......I mean, WHO needs a whip at work?], and brolly. Well, this charming fellow did see to it that I got these 'Home Exterminator' thingies for pretty damn cheap . If you so desire, I could arrange to have one visit you.....They DO like 'Earl Grey' with a slice of lemon, and cup-cakes.




Morris, Florris, Horris, Borris and Frank.

Dorris and Clorris.


Thank-you Joan. I've been knobbled! I swear that they were there yesterday! mmmmmmmmm.

 

[Joan Archer]

Your attachments just bring up page not found sassofalco so I don't know what you were showing