[Typo Dave]

I was looking at all the smilies icons here, and it occurred to me that their use is an infringement of registered trade mark and copyright.

A UK company called Smiley Corporation owns the concept - bought it off a French company called Licence Smile 3 years ago.

Since then its got 1500 trade marks around the world and has launched an aggressive campaign against infringers in ASia and continetal Europe. They are planning a 30th anniversary celebration for Smiley in 2002.

Their big problem is the guys who previously owned it didn't bother to enforce their rights in respect of the icon esp in Europe and the US, leading to the belief that its in the public domain.

I'm waiting for the time that this company cracks down on Infopop and other bulletin board manufacturers...

...somone will have to come up with a substitute. May be an idea for one of you creative geniuses...

[Brainswitch]

I say, we all sharpen our pencils or wacom pen things. Then, when they send their death squads after us, we can fight our way out! We're gonna have a hard time with the t-1000, I heard they had a couple of those. Somebody just had better bring some liquid nitrogen and a firehose. Maybe if we all pitch in we can buy some ion cannons. Ok, I'm gonna go draw up the plans for a super-human enhancment space-battle body suit of some kind. That's the best I can come up with.

[Staff Sarge]

Lingual invalidity in expressing emotions using regular common vocabulary and lack of intuition accompanied by general laziness of body and mind is the main reason why people use smilies.

Ok, a 15*15px yellow circle with two dots above a curved line may be amusing the first five hundred times you see it, but after that...

My point is that I don't give a doodle if they want to take them away (which is an impossible task) or not. And I should get some sleep. It's 6:05 AM.

[J Bradford]

Pfshh, yeah, I would like to see it happen.

[MrPumpernickel]

LMAO!!! This is a pathetic and futile attempt...that's all I have to say!

[EviLToYLeT]

*shrug* the copyright probably expired already. It was supposedly started by harvey ball... and.. well he just died not to long ago. he got paid 45 bux. but *shrug*, it just gained popularity. I mean hey.... it's kinda like t-shirts now adays. ... everyones selling it, and hey, you can make your own, etc. etc. etc.

[Ian]

what the fuck is next? Copyright happiness?

"You can't smile! STOP IT! That's Infringement! AHHH!!!"