Here's one that will make you laugh. Facebook is said to be a few steps away from trademarking the word face
Apparently the social networking site has been asked to detail a “statement of use” by the US Patent and Trademark Office, explaining how it intends to use the word.
If granted, the trademark will only apply to online sites and services used to exchange messages. So it's not quite as ridiculous as it first sounds.
You're not going to get sued every time you right down the word face but ‘services like Apple’s Facetime for example, could be affected’ said lawyers.
Trade mark specialist Fiona McBride, from law firm Withers and Rogers, said the move was “not as unexpected as it may sound.”
“Facebook is right to lay legal claim to use of the word ‘face’ in the context of social networking sites and other specific computer-linked activities because they have built up a reputation in the name Facebook, of which arguably ‘face’ is the dominant element,” she said. What about ‘book’? is that next?
The rumour stems from a document floating around online that shows the social network has applied for the trademark for use in telecommunication services, namely, providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among computer users”.
Obviously ****book declined to comment on the story.
Source: BBC