Facebook: De"face"ing the internet

[Empireth]

Facebook.
Everyone has one, right? Or at least, that's the assumption. It has managed to worm its way into everyone's head, whether we have an account or not. But little do we realize, it's worming its way further than we think.

You see, Facebook is now one step closer to trademarking the word "face." Or, at least in certain situations. They put in an application for this in 2005. Little was heard, and it was assumed this attempt was dead. However, on Tuesday, the widely successful company has heard back. Facebook has received a "notice of allowance" from the US Patent and Trademark Office. For those of you unaware, this means that Facebook now has six months to show it uses the trademark, along with paying a 100$ fee. (Alternatively, it could file for a 36 month extension.) Once that's over, the trademark will be either approved or rejected.

But how would that affect you if it's approved? Aside from letting you know that all you need is a lot of money and power in the internet world to trademark a common word, it'll also affect this worrisome instance:

Even if it's approved, Facebook wouldn't have a trademark on "face" in every instance, only in online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for the "transmission of messages among computer users in the field of general interest and concerning social and entertainment subject matter," according to the Patent and Trademark Office's database entry on the application.

Electronic bulletin boards... forums? Online chat rooms... MSN? IRC? AIM? Would that make uses such as 'facepalm' obsolete? What about about 'The many faces of the Escapist'? No, no more picture threads for you, my friends. At least, not with the word 'face' in it.

However:

It oddly exempts uses "primarily featuring or relating to motoring or to cars."

Phew. You had me worried there, Facebook. I was worried I wouldn't be able to discuss how my new car is faceing this nice Canadian winter.
So, don?t worry. You can still use "face" in the context as "to face something" if this thing passes. You just can't talk about it online in a transmission of messages concerning anything considered 'general interest.' So basically, you can't use it and be having fun online.

[Interesting note, though. Since this request was filed back in 2005, not one single person has filed an opposition to this proposed trademark.]

So what are your thoughts? Should anyone be allowed to trademark common words? Is Facebook getting too cocky for their own good? Should we revolt and change all references to Facebook as Creepbook (or other such terms)?

Source [http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/11/25/facebook-trademark-face.html].

Edit:
While I admit to being slightly sarcastic about never being able to use the word "face" online after this will pass, I will plead artistic license on the basis I do not know how the US trademark laws work. Also, it seemed the sensible thing to do.

However, that doesn't take away from the fact that trademarking the word "face" would limit quite a lot of other companies from using it. Face is a common word, it would significantly impact business markets to have that no longer accessible to them. What about FaceCash [http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/03/facebook-facecash-aaron-greenspan-mobile-payments/]? Facebook seems relentless to keeping people off any sort of similar name.

In August, it filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Teachbook.com, an online community for teachers.

That was teachers, people.

 

[MasterKirov]

Reminds me of Magic the Gathering trademarking the word "Tapping" -_-

 

[HK_01]

This is just as ridiculous as companies patenting living creatures...I don't think this is what the creators to patent rights had in mind when they made them.

 

[Irridium]

So I can't say "face" on the internet?

You must be shitting me. It'll be interesting to see how they get most of the internet to pay for using the word "face". My bet is that they won't get shit.

 

[Daffy F]

I don't think anyone should be allowed to trademark a common word, no. I think, in order to trademark ANY word, you should have had to come up with it yourself.

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

Facepalm, Facebook is getting way too obsessed and so do most Facebookers. I don't even know why people use Facebook. It's the social networking site that carries the most viruses.

 

[DeASplode]

I think nobody has opposed to it because everyone thinks that it's just stupid to try and trademark the word "Face".

Why are they trying to trademark it? What gain is there to be had?

 

[Outright Villainy]

Now, what does this remind me of?

Mom, love and screen door are all registered trademarks of Mom corp.

 

[Private Custard]

Reminds me of the time Harley Davidson tried to claim the rights to the sound of underpowered, oversized v-twin motorcycle engines!

Lunacy, this world has to fucking stop, step back and look at the mess.

 

[Tearopenthelives]

I'm pretty sure they aren't trademarking the word face in general discussion, impossible, rather the use of the word face as a name for an application or object, so while I can say " my face hurts", I can't set up a system such as, upload pictures to the facerec, to find identities of people in pictures online

 

[ActivatorX]

If this passes (and I'm sure it will, afterall this is the US), it will lead Facebook on the top position of the interwebz, and crippling many companies/websites til bankrupcy.
Facebook is the definition of capitalistic greed.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

Wow and i thought the trademark for Ubercool was ridiculous. Well another hooray for US law

PS is the letter "e" taken? id pay 100 bucks for the rights

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

So I can't say "face" on the internet?

You must be shitting me. It'll be interesting to see how they get most of the internet to pay for using the word "face". My bet is that they won't get shit.

I'd change my name on Facebook to "Face McFace".

 

[TimeLord]

So I can't say "face" on the internet?

facefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefaceface

I'm getting it out of my system now so I don't feel repressed if they get this passed!

facefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefacefaceface

face

 

[Sikachu]

Facebook.
Everyone has one, right? Or at least, that's the assumption. It has managed to worm its way into everyone's head, whether we have an account or not. But little do we realize, it's worming its way further than we think.

You see, Facebook is now one step closer to trademarking the word "face." Or, at least in certain situations. They put in an application for this in 2005. Little was heard, and it was assumed this attempt was dead. However, on Tuesday, the widely successful company has heard back. Facebook has received a "notice of allowance" from the US Patent and Trademark Office. For those of you unaware, this means that Facebook now has six months to show it uses the trademark, along with paying a 100$ fee. (Alternatively, it could file for a 36 month extension.) Once that's over, the trademark will be either approved or rejected.

But how would that affect you if it's approved? Aside from letting you know that all you need is a lot of money and power in the internet world to trademark a common word, it'll also affect this worrisome instance:

Even if it's approved, Facebook wouldn't have a trademark on "face" in every instance, only in online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for the "transmission of messages among computer users in the field of general interest and concerning social and entertainment subject matter," according to the Patent and Trademark Office's database entry on the application.

Electronic bulletin boards... forums? Online chat rooms... MSN? IRC? AIM? Would that make uses such as 'facepalm' obsolete? What about about 'The many faces of the Escapist'? No, no more picture threads for you, my friends. At least, not with the word 'face' in it.

However:

It oddly exempts uses "primarily featuring or relating to motoring or to cars."

Phew. You had me worried there, Facebook. I was worried I wouldn't be able to discuss how my new car is faceing this nice Canadian winter.
So, don?t worry. You can still use "face" in the context as "to face something" if this thing passes. You just can't talk about it online in a transmission of messages concerning anything considered 'general interest.' So basically, you can't use it and be having fun online.

[Interesting note, though. Since this request was filed back in 2005, not one single person has filed an opposition to this proposed trademark.]

So what are your thoughts? Should anyone be allowed to trademark common words? Is Facebook getting too cocky for their own good? Should we revolt and change all references to Facebook as Creepbook (or other such terms)?

Source [http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/11/25/facebook-trademark-face.html].

Nope. Wrong. Not how trademark law works. If it passes (and of course with a little green grease everything passes in the 'land of the free as long as you've got shit loads of money') it'll just mean that no-one else in the relatively similar business of online communications will be able to trade using the word 'Face'. It's no different to The Escapist's trademarking of 'The Escapist'. Don't be hysterical and do just the first little bit of research (read wikipedia) before writing articles here expounding your ignorance to others please.

 

[Voodoo_Person]

Does this mean the website Faceparty is fucked?

 

[Jedamethis]

So I can't say "face" on the internet?

You must be shitting me. It'll be interesting to see how they get most of the internet to pay for using the word "face". My bet is that they won't get shit.

I'd change my name on Facebook to "Face McFace".

Can I be your evil/lesser known twin?

 

[newfoundsky]

Um, guys?

It would prohibit any other company using "Face*blank*" or "*blank*face". Sheesh.

 

[Mechsoap]

Why would you want to trademark a common word? that's evil and evil overlord like.

 

[Aidinthel]

I know I've been ninja'd a couple times but I feel this needs stating. My impression of that article is that the trademark only applies to the names of applications or services. So if I make a new social networking site, I can't name it "FaceAlbum" or something, and Zynga won't be making "Faceville" any time soon. Even US law isn't that stupid. Stop getting hysterical.