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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Off Topic => Topic started by: stokfoto on December 15, 2008, 07:15

Title: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: stokfoto on December 15, 2008, 07:15

did you hear about this: a Russian businessman now holds the patent for the emoticon wink. ;-) so it  is a trademark now ,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7778767.stm

according to the news on bbc it still controversial though

Title: Re: becareful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: epantha on December 15, 2008, 07:58

Not the sharpest pin in the cushion, is he? ;)

Title: Re: becareful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: bittersweet on December 15, 2008, 08:29

Sounds like the folks at the patent agency who signed off on it are the dullards.  ;D

Title: Re: becareful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: hali on December 15, 2008, 14:59

Quote from: whatalife on December 15, 2008, 08:29

Sounds like the folks at the patent agency who signed off on it are the dullards.  ;D

too much vodka  ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: madelaide on December 15, 2008, 15:54

Can you patent something that has been around for years?

Regards,
Adelaide

Title: Re: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on December 15, 2008, 16:09

Ahhh, Russia.  They're so cute sometimes.

Title: Re: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: melastmohican on December 15, 2008, 16:10

Thanks God they did not patent internet :-)

Title: Re: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: stormchaser on December 15, 2008, 18:49

I hereby trademark the Question Mark

Please be informed that ? is now trademarked by Stormchaser

So no more questions on this forum or I will sue :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Title: Re: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: yingyang0 on December 15, 2008, 23:21

Quote from: madelaide on December 15, 2008, 15:54

Can you patent something that has been around for years?

Regards,
Adelaide

Well they didn't patent it they trademarked it, and actually you can trademark something that was in common usage if it "acquires secondary meaning". However this is a big joke, and don't worry because Russia isn't exactly known for their respect of any intellectual property let alone jokes like this ;-).

Title: Re: be careful wink is a trademark now ;-)
Post by: alpy7 on December 15, 2008, 23:23

Quote from: melastmohican on December 15, 2008, 16:10

Thanks God they did not patent internet :-)

Didn't Al Gore invent that??