Cingular applies for patents on emoticons and smileys

[eestlinc]

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060015812%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060015812&RS=DN/20060015812

because, like, they obviously invented them.

[SammieBabe]

'Cause that'll be enforceable...:rolleyes2

[Flying Mullet]

Sounds like some exec at Cingular said "Hey, why don't we throw a couple thousand dollars at trying to patent emoticons. If we get it, it'll be great and if we don't we'll only be out a couple thousand dollars."

[Old Manus]

I always hated :shoot: anyway

[-N-]

there was that thing where despair.com tried to patent :<s></s>(

http://store.yahoo.com/demotivators/frownonthis.html

http://store.yahoo.com/demotivators/acompromise.html

[Loony BoB]

there was that thing where despair.com tried to patent :<s></s>(

http://store.yahoo.com/demotivators/frownonthis.html

http://store.yahoo.com/demotivators/acompromise.html
...and apparently succeeded? He's selling them. O_o Does he seriously have copyright over the sad smiley? That's almost unbelievable.

[-N-]

Yeah, I said "tried" to patent because I thought they failed, then I found the news articles again and realized they succeeded and was too depressed to change what I said.

They're selling their Classic frownie for free though. Free shipping too. I just placed an order for one without punching in a credit card number. TAKE THAT DESPAIR
Name Code Qty Each Options
---------------------------------------------
"Classic" FWN-001 1 0.00
Subtotal 0.00
Shipping 0.00
Tax 0.00
Total 0.00

[Cz]

No. :nonono:

[Meat Puppet]

I'm glad I made my recent purchase of those NextGen Smileys then.

[Samuraid]

Forget about Cingular. :p They are silly. I'll be somewhat surprised if they actually get away with it.

[Levian]

Always trust humans to start sueing eachother when they get bored.

[Psychotic]

I'm patenting the English language.

[Flying Mullet]

I'm patenting your mom.

[Resha]

God, I'd hate to be the one to reject and pass patents, or even write them. What boring stuff to read.

[Lindy]

I'm patenting the English language.
Sorry, too late.

And it's now called Linglish for your information.

[edczxcvbnm]

They will get this patent fairly easily. I don't see any reason they really shouldn't after actually reading the patent.

[Rye]

Now I feel dumb for using Cingular as a phone service. xD

[fire_of_avalon]

As long as they don't take :kaohappy:, I'm good.

[-N-]

They will get this patent fairly easily. I don't see any reason they really shouldn't after actually reading the patent.I think ed is right. They're not patenting the emoticons themselves, just a means of generating them.

[Shoeberto]

Didn't Microsoft already try to patent them?

[Miriel]

That's as stupid as Donald Trump trying to trademark "You're fired".

[edczxcvbnm]

They are not patenting the concept of emoticons. They are patenting their way of using them for cellular devices. With how their menus would work and how their system would interrpert things. That is what they are patenting. If you just read the abstract then you didn't read far enough.

Their thought is to create this way to use emotions on a cellphone and eventually have it become the standard. Then others would have to pay them royalties to use this method of using emoticons or come up with a way that resemebles it without stepping on the patent.

I think this is a very smart buisness move that with pass easily.

[eestlinc]

yea, I got the impression it was actually the technique and probably necessary based on some phone they are making, probably, but I still wanted to post it.

also, http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29130

[Rengori]

The song "Happy Birthday" is copyrighted. This is why they never sing the traditional song at resturaunts.

[Xaven]

Yes, a smart move for Cingular indeed. At first, I thought they were gonna try to take smileys from me altogether! I shall never part with the kaos. :kaoplain:


The song "Happy Birthday" is copyrighted. This is why they never sing the traditional song at resturaunts.
Hah! It makes sense now!

[Christmas]

As long as they don't take :kaohappy:, I'm good.

Christmas agree.

[edczxcvbnm]

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29130

The Onion? Now thats gold baby. I approve :love:

[Giga Guess]

I'm patenting the English language.

Don't be so heartless! I'm just gonna patent the letter "E."