Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Wal-Mart Trying to Trademark the Smiley Face

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the :)-prior-art dept.

Ellis D. Tripp writes to tell us BBC News is reporting that mega-retailer, Wal-Mart, is now fighting it out with a man who claims to have invented the 'smiley face' logo, and has been marketing it since the '70s. From the article: "Until now the smiley face had been considered in the public domain in the US, and therefore free for anyone to use. Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley told the Los Angeles Times that it had not moved to register the trademark until Mr Loufrani had threatened to do so."

4 of 317 comments (clear)

  1. This looks interesting... by Meest · · Score: 0, Redundant

    But everyone already knows that Forest Gump is the real inovator here....

  2. Re:Heh by tklive · · Score: 0, Redundant

    its actually John Simley

  3. :-( already is trademarked! by rdwald · · Score: 1, Redundant

    All you jokers replying to this with ":-(" don't realize the irony of your actions -- fronies are a registered trademark of Despair, Inc.

  4. the real inventor by spuby · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I thought that Forest, Forest Gump invented the smiley face.