Good Luck to the Russian Businessman Trying to Cash in on the Emoticon
Good Luck to the Russian Businessman Trying to Cash in on the Emoticon
Posted 12/12/2008 at 2:15pm
| 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.
More like this
DreadedOne509
December 15, 2008 at 5:30am
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"
Spider-Mom
December 12, 2008 at 5:15pm
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.
Wildebeast
December 12, 2008 at 3:38pm
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.
praetor_alpha
December 12, 2008 at 4:02pm
You're not likely to find anyone in Russia CAN pay that much.
habuza
December 12, 2008 at 3:20pm
t('.' t) Q('.' t) Q('.' Q)
<('.'<) ^( '.' )^ (> '.')>
t( '.')mD~~~ ( o Y o )
What's that ? Like 80 grand? Eat my arse you commie.
Asterixx
December 12, 2008 at 3:00pm
Nunc est bibendum!
;););););););)
Whoops, there goes the retirement fund...
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