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Good Luck to the Russian Businessman Trying to Cash in on the Emoticon

Posted 12/12/08 at 04:15:03 PM  by Andy Salisbury

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Straight out of the “really?” file, it looks like a Russian businessman that goes by the name of Oleg Teterin is claiming that he owns the trademark for the ;-) emoticon.

Mr. Teterin is looking to go after corporations that are using the emoticon for profit - or any others that resemble it, including :-), ;) or :). “Legal use will be possible after buying an annual license from us,” stated Mr. Teterin. “It won't cost that much - tens of thousands of dollars.”

Many critics doubt the legality of the trademark because the emoticon has been in the public domain for so many years. One opponent of the claimed trademark is the president of the Russian social networking site odnoklassniki.ru, Nikita Sherman. She’s been quoted as saying “You're not likely to find any retards in Russia who'll pay … for the use of emoticons.”

And it doesn’t help that Mr. Teterin isn’t the first Russian to lay claim to the emoticon. Sadly, he might end up :’(, instead of :-D.

COMMENTS:8
TAGS: trademark, emoticon, Russian, Oleg Teterin, Commons
COMMENTS
avatarBi-otch

Submitted by r3dd4wg on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 1:46pm

I got his tens of thousands of dollars RIGHT HERE

 ;-)

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avatarThis would sad if it wasn't

Submitted by DreadedOne509 on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 6:30am

This would sad if it wasn't so fricken funny.

Now watch as he wins massive amounts of money 

from people using his trademark for profit 8|

 

;-)

 

"Thought's of Dread"

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avatartheres more

Submitted by Spider-Mom on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 6:15pm

Also I own the license for some of the lower case letters of the alphabet some how. Every time you use a "j" or a "r" or a lower case question mark I need 30,000$

 

Also give me money for cursive wirting.

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avatarA refreshing lack of PC, or just a poor translation??

Submitted by Wildebeast on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 4:38pm

Has she really said "You're not likely to find any retards in Russia who'll pay … for the use of emoticons.”  ??

Or is that just someone using a crappy translator?

Either way, it's funny as hell, to me.

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avatarYou're not likely...

Submitted by praetor_alpha on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 5:02pm

You're not likely to find anyone in Russia CAN pay that much.

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avatarOh yeah Russian douchebag? Take this :

Submitted by habuza on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 4:20pm

t('.' t) Q('.' t) Q('.' Q)

<('.'<) ^( '.' )^ (> '.')>

 t( '.')mD~~~ (   o   Y   o   )

 

What's that ? Like 80 grand? Eat my arse you commie.

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avatarNunc est

Submitted by Asterixx on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 4:00pm

Nunc est bibendum!

 ;););););););)

 

Whoops, there goes the retirement fund...

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avatar^_^

Submitted by nekollx on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 3:59pm

^_^

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