A Russian businessman named Oleg Teterin, the owner of a mobile advertising firm called Superfon, has trademarked the iconic winking smiley – ;-) – in Russia. Teterin says that one year commercial licenses for the emoticon will cost “tens of thousands of dollars.” Charitably, regular users of the Internet can still use the smiley for free, according to Teterin.
“The decision from Rospatent means that no commercial organization in Russia can use this symbol in their advertising. It does not touch upon natural persons, who use smileys on the Internet,” Teterin said.
Because other emoticons, such as :), :-), and ;) are so similar to Teterin’s trademark, they also can’t be used legally in Russia. Legal experts don’t think the Russian Patent Agency’s trademark grant will ultimately hold up, however. “This set of computer keyboard characters is universally recognized. Therefore, its registration as a trademark may contradict the public interests,” legal expert Viktor Naumov told the Pravda newspaper.
In 2001, Despair, Inc., the makers of parody inspiration products, trademarked the frown smiley – :-( – in the United States as a joke, or perhaps as a way to point out flaws in the US patent and trademark system. A few press outlets back then picked up the story and generated some good press coverage for Despair.
It is a lot harder to tell if Teterin is joking, though. Russian daily Kommersant reports that this isn’t the first time that someone in Russia has tried to trademark that smiley emoticon.
And we were worried about Google patenting Gears.
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That made me laugh ;-)
December 13th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Haha, oh Russia…
December 13th, 2008 at 2:36 am
That’s unbelieveable!
So, let’s use it: ;-)
December 13th, 2008 at 2:37 am
That’s cool. At least they didn’t stop us from using it! ;-)
December 13th, 2008 at 3:45 am
ho ho ho O
December 13th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Of course, they’re relying on the fact that this will cause people to use the emoticon just to disrespect the ridiculous trademark, thus generating plenty of free publicity. ;-)
As long as they don’t copyright Kirby (>’.')> everything’s still fine! :-P
December 13th, 2008 at 4:03 am
Kirby exercise routine!
\(’.')/ (>’.')> <(’.'<) (>’.')> <(’.”.’)> <(’.'<) (>’.')> <(’.”.’)> <(’.'<) (>’.')> <(’.”.’)> <(’.'<) (>’.')> <(’.”.’)> <(’.'<) (>’.')> <(’.'<)
December 13th, 2008 at 5:59 am
This is probably the dumbest thing I read… and also the smartest thing i read.
Smart?
Because if their competitor use it in their content, they can easily take them to court.
Dumb?
These officials should realize that smileys are general stuff. Just like dictionary words like good, bad, sad etc… Therefore, they cannot be trademarked.
It’s not even an unique symbol but general knowledge that is known to most man in the 21st century.
December 13th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I would imagine they can’t copyright ;-) in every font. they would have to pick a specific form, and therefore a specific font. Personally, I would pick a better one than the picture at the top of the story… :)
December 13th, 2008 at 6:33 am
@randywehrs: Well, technically that was my pick (and it’s Verdana). :)
For the record, my favorite smiley is: ¬.¬ (inspiration for the :shifty: smiley in the SitePoint Forums — the original version of which I created — fun trivia).
December 13th, 2008 at 6:46 am
OMGosh, lol.. That’s so dumb… What people do for money these days… lol… I’m never going to stop using it ;-)
Actually, how can they trademark it? It’s a general few keyboard keys… You’d think they’d have enough sense not to trademark it knowing people are going to use it whether or not they have it trademarked or not.
December 13th, 2008 at 9:59 am
(>’.')>P o __________|__________ Q<(’.'<)
(Kirby Ping Pong)
“SitePoint®” is also a general few keyboard keys, no? ;-)®
December 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
That’s it! I’m registering :-@
as this just makes me want to :-@
And here’s the great news, I’m only gonna license it out for only “thousands of dollars” in Russia, you know, undercut the competition. Tell me that that makes sense. Apparently, someone convinced those guys.
December 13th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
In Soviet Russia, ;-) emoticon patents you!
December 13th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Wow, now that is hustlin. What are the odds he starts suing everybody now?
http://www.KyleHealey.com
December 13th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I applied to register ® and © so people, watch your step when registering anything from now on!
December 14th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I’ve never understood how it’s possible to trademark something that you haven’t created or invented.. Like “apple” for instance..
December 14th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Hmm… apple’s trademarked? ‘wtf’
Ok, who do I contact to protest this kind of weirdness?
We all can chat about it here, but if we don’t protest, soon you will see more examples like this.
December 14th, 2008 at 7:54 am
:-) this is for You my slovian brothers:)
December 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am
We know that the Internet has become the enterprises to promote products, increase the visibility of the necessary means to their business information in BtoB’s Web site to log into a lot of business after the Internet will do; At the same time, relatively well-known site in order to enrich their own Data resources, has been the find this kind of enterprise customer base continued to increase their visibility.
December 15th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Didn’t this get revoked?
December 15th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Wow… trademarking a sequence of keystrokes. Could this be possible? Here’s some ideas for anyone looking to make a quick buck:
1. omg
2. brb
3. gmta
4. lol
5. lmao
6. lmfao
7. 0_0
8. 0_o
9. :-)
10. ;-)
11. :-p
12. :-8
For a very detailed list of options, check out http://www.missingkids.com/adcouncil/pdf/lingo/onlinelingo.pdf
This doesn’t belong to me or anyone I know.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
The smiley face ;-) is trademarkable in Russia, why?
Its distinctiveness rests around the fact that nobody smiles… bit like Germany :-)
December 16th, 2008 at 4:13 am
;-) How funny (and ridiculous)!
December 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Did anyone in Russia’s historey ever get rich by actually working? Everything that leads to big bucks there is either inherited, stolen or uses standover men!
December 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd1. has developed the production line technology that at room temperature smashing discarded tires (rubber) into 80-200 mesh rubber powder (technology of the company itself, with which the rubber powder average granularity can reach to 250 mesh, the absolute granularity accounting for 70% reaches to 200 mesh).
January 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd. has developed the production line technology that at room temperature smashing discarded tires (rubber) into 80-200 mesh rubber powder (technology of the company itself, with which the rubber powder average granularity can reach to 250 mesh, the absolute granularity accounting for 70% reaches to 200 mesh).
January 6th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
http://www.cn-officefurniture.com for createing a cohesive look throughout workspaces, the line includes a mid-back task, high-back executive, sled-base guest and a seminar chair withnesting storage capability.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd.
1. According to the different materials, different additive (or without additives), the production are sorted to ensure the consistent performance of rubber power.
2. The production line technology can deal with not only steel-wire tires, but also fiber tires. Multiprocessing is used to remove steel wires and fibers in tires, which can ensure the purity of rubber power.
3. The entire production line in operation without any pollution: no dust, noise-free, no dispersing fiber in the workshop, no waste water, smoke-free, is 100% environmentally friendly.
4. The technology of smashing rubber powder to 200 mesh is originated by the compony, which filling up the blankness of home and abroad in the filed.; the technology successfully solved the rub of heat degradation and mushing with high temperature by using the incorporate method of wind-cooling and water-cooling.
5. The line using late-model, high-yield and low-power equipments, which ensures the produce operation automaticlly.
January 17th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd.
The company is willing to cooperate with clients by flexible forms such as workshop desigh, production line design, manufacture, installation, commissioning, staff-training and after-sales services.
The main project the compony provides are as followings:
1. To take 40-120 mesh rubber powder production line，the line is operated automatically, noise-free, no dust and no waste water in operation and has a high extraction rate in 80 mesh, The scale is decided according to custom’s needs.
2. To take 80-120 mesh ,80-200 mesh ,120-200 mesh of rubber powder production line, the 120-200 mesh technology is our proprietary technology.The line is operated automatically, noise-free, no dust and no waste water in operation and has a high extraction rate in 80 mesh, The scale is decided according to custom’s needs.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
With the rapid development of modern society, the environmental issues is becoming worse to worsen. The black pollution brought by industrial waste rubber has penetrated our life.
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd[http://www.lvhuanyu.cn/ENindex.asp] is committing itself to protect the environment and return human being a green world. It’s a high-tech enterprises having two production line technologies. The one is to deal with discarded tires to 40-200 mesh rubber powder at room temperature; the other is to manufacture rubber product with rubber powder.
After eight years of continuous prephase research, the company has developed the production line technology that at room temperature smashing discarded tires (rubber) into 80-200 mesh rubber powder (technology of the company itself, with which the rubber powder average granularity can reach to 250 mesh, the absolute granularity accounting for 70% reaches to 200 mesh). As mentioned above, another product line technoloty is to manufacture thermoplastic elastomer sheet with rubber powder of 40-120 mesh or 80-120mesh or 80-200 mesh. The production lines have stable performance, simple production process, low cost without pollution (no exhaust, no dust, no wastewater), and with other advantages.These technologies, designed and applied to several enterprises at home and abroad with advanced design concepts as well as strong technical force and, have gotten good economical returns.
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd., according to customer’s request, can design and manufacture production lines of waste rubber at the scale from 3000 to 20000 tons to different granularity from 40-120mesh or 80-200mesh or 120-200mesh; besides, the compony provides all-round services including installation, commissioning, aftersale services, staff training etc. At the same time, it also provide production line technology services on manufacturing rubber powder into thermoplastic elastomer sheet at annual output about 5,000 tons or more.
The company hopes to provide clients with high quality products, advanced technology and first-rank services following the policy of “establishing first-class brand, being people-oriented, making friends all over the world and sharing interests with them”. The company is willing to cooperate with men of insight, hand in hand, to contribute itself to social well-being.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
With the rapid development of modern society, the environmental issues is becoming worse to worsen. The black pollution brought by industrial waste rubber has penetrated our life.
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd[武汉绿环寰宇科技有限公司] is committing itself to protect the environment and return human being a green world. It’s a high-tech enterprises having two production line technologies. The one is to deal with discarded tires to 40-200 mesh rubber powder at room temperature; the other is to manufacture rubber product with rubber powder.
After eight years of continuous prephase research, the company has developed the production line technology that at room temperature smashing discarded tires (rubber) into 80-200 mesh rubber powder (technology of the company itself, with which the rubber powder average granularity can reach to 250 mesh, the absolute granularity accounting for 70% reaches to 200 mesh). As mentioned above, another product line technoloty is to manufacture thermoplastic elastomer sheet with rubber powder of 40-120 mesh or 80-120mesh or 80-200 mesh. The production lines have stable performance, simple production process, low cost without pollution (no exhaust, no dust, no wastewater), and with other advantages.These technologies, designed and applied to several enterprises at home and abroad with advanced design concepts as well as strong technical force and, have gotten good economical returns.
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd., according to customer’s request, can design and manufacture production lines of waste rubber at the scale from 3000 to 20000 tons to different granularity from 40-120mesh or 80-200mesh or 120-200mesh; besides, the compony provides all-round services including installation, commissioning, aftersale services, staff training etc. At the same time, it also provide production line technology services on manufacturing rubber powder into thermoplastic elastomer sheet at annual output about 5,000 tons or more.
The company hopes to provide clients with high quality products, advanced technology and first-rank services following the policy of “establishing first-class brand, being people-oriented, making friends all over the world and sharing interests with them”. The company is willing to cooperate with men of insight, hand in hand, to contribute itself to social well-being.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd [武汉绿寰宇科技有限公司]
The company is willing to cooperate with clients by flexible forms such as workshop desigh, production line design, manufacture, installation, commissioning, staff-training and after-sales services.
The main project the compony provides are as followings:
1. To take 40-120 mesh rubber powder production line，the line is operated automatically, noise-free, no dust and no waste water in operation and has a high extraction rate in 80 mesh, The scale is decided according to custom’s needs.
2. To take 80-120 mesh ,80-200 mesh ,120-200 mesh of rubber powder production line, the 120-200 mesh technology is our proprietary technology.The line is operated automatically, noise-free, no dust and no waste water in operation and has a high extraction rate in 80 mesh, The scale is decided according to custom’s needs.
January 26th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd., according to customer’s request, can design and manufacture production lines of waste rubber at the scale from 3000 to 20000 tons to different granularity from 40-120mesh or 80-200mesh or 120-200mesh; besides, the compony provides all-round services including installation, commissioning, aftersale services, staff training etc. At the same time, it also provide production line technology services on manufacturing rubber powder into thermoplastic elastomer sheet at annual output about 5,000 tons or more.
1. The advantage of the projects
To crush vulcanized scrap rubber, is best to comprehensively use methods of shear, extrusion, grinding, pulling and impact. Different method is adopted in different paragraph. Compared with the traditional room-temperature method, many factors were changed such as the process software, process equipment, automated control on production lines, which makes the technology more scientific, advanced and practical.
Mainly characteristics of the product line:
(1). According to the different materials, different additive (or without additives), the production are sorted to ensure the consistent performance of rubber power.
(2). The production line technology can deal with not only steel-wire tires, but also fiber tires, which makes waste tires be used fully. There isn’t any rubber on the tablets with new process (for details see the picture of wire after separation), which can ensure the purity of rubber power.
(3). The whole production line in operation without any pollution: no dust, noise-free, no dispersing fiber in the workshop, no waste water, smoke-free, is 100% environmentally friendly.
(4). The technology of smashing rubber powder to 200 mesh is originated by our company, which filling up the blankness of home and abroad in the filed; the technology successfully solved the rub of heat degradation and mushing with high temperature with the incorporate method of wind-cooling and water-cooling.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
With the rapid development of modern society, the environmental issues is becoming worse to worsen. The black pollution brought by industrial waste rubber has penetrated our life.
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd is committing itself to protect the environment and return human being a green world. It’s a high-tech enterprises having two production line technologies. The one is to deal with discarded tires to 40-200 mesh rubber powder at room temperature; the other is to manufacture rubber product with rubber powder.
After eight years of continuous prephase research, the company has developed the production line technology that at room temperature smashing discarded tires (rubber) into 80-200 mesh rubber powder (technology of the company itself, with which the rubber powder average granularity can reach to 250 mesh, the absolute granularity accounting for 70% reaches to 200 mesh). As mentioned above, another product line technoloty is to manufacture thermoplastic elastomer sheet with rubber powder of 40-120 mesh or 80-120mesh or 80-200 mesh. The production lines have stable performance, simple production process, low cost without pollution (no exhaust, no dust, no wastewater), and with other advantages.These technologies, designed and applied to several enterprises at home and abroad with advanced design concepts as well as strong technical force and, have gotten good economical returns.
Wuhan Green world Technology Co., Ltd., according to customer’s request, can design and manufacture production lines of waste rubber at the scale from 3000 to 20000 tons to different granularity from 40-120mesh or 80-200mesh or 120-200mesh; besides, the compony provides all-round services including installation, commissioning, aftersale services, staff training etc. At the same time, it also provide production line technology services on manufacturing rubber powder into thermoplastic elastomer sheet at annual output about 5,000 tons or more.
The company hopes to provide clients with high quality products, advanced technology and first-rank services following the policy of “establishing first-class brand, being people-oriented, making friends all over the world and sharing interests with them”. The company is willing to cooperate with men of insight, hand in hand, to contribute itself to social well-being.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Tons of cash&joy!!!
http://www.moviejt.cn
February 26th, 2009 at 3:58 pm