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» Debate » Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face
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Sean Reply #20 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 09, 2006, 05:00:35 PM
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Boom
How about "Woadmart"?

Woadmart.JPG (19.49 KB, 360x360 - viewed 137 times.)
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I am both much more foolish and a great deal less absurd than I am likely to seem.
S*S Reply #21 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 09, 2006, 05:45:53 PM
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Don't you all be dissin' on Evolution, that movie kicked ass.

I love the bit where the guy made parrot calls, and sung "you are so beautiful" to lure the dragon out into the open so they could shoot it.

"CAN'T YOU SEEEEEE-EEE!"

"..."

"..."

"Ok, stand back Harry, Im gonna shoot him."
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...It's JOHNNY. Jeepers, how hard do you think it is to distract him?  It's like, more difficult to distract a kitten. -Majestrix
Most [political] problems are the product of complex conditions. They require trade-offs and policy expertise. They are not solvable through the mere assertion of sterling character.
What are good/neutral things about me?/Bad things about me?
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Antero Reply #22 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 09, 2006, 08:02:03 PM
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Not your monkey.
Quote from: Symmetry on May 09, 2006, 02:46:10 PM
Um, don't worry nobody is trying to copyright the smiley face.  Whats happening is that Wallmart is trying to register it as a trademark, meaning you can still make smiley face T-Shirts or whatever, but you couldn't use smilies to advirtize your business if there is any danger at all of the store then being confused with something Wallmart affiliated.
...which would result in them suing like mad, constantly, because almost anything could have a vague claim of that sort stuck on it.
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I hate my species.
In other news, here is a marmoset riding a turtle.
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Gudy Reply #23 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 02:34:00 AM
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JC Chasez in a Dr Huxtable sweater
Quote from: Symmetry on May 09, 2006, 02:46:10 PM
Um, don't worry nobody is trying to copyright the smiley face.  Whats happening is that Wallmart is trying to register it as a trademark, meaning you can still make smiley face T-Shirts or whatever, but you couldn't use smilies to advirtize your business if there is any danger at all of the store then being confused with something Wallmart affiliated.

Gah, I should have said "trademark" and not "copyright". Still, that doesn't really change the gist of my post: If Walmart registers their smiley trademark in a sufficiently large number of product categories, everyone else is severely restricted in using any smiley in those product categories (due to the danger of it being confused with the Walmart smiley on grounds of general similarity). Should the trademark be judged famous, *any* use of said trademark in *any* product category, even those it wasn't registered for, is considered dilution by "Blurring" and is prohibited. What is or isn't considered famous is basically up to the judge.

Just look at what happens to just about any web site that has the form "Easy<something>". A good number of them were sued by the EasyJet & Co. empire on exactly those grounds. The deities help you if in addition to being named "Easy<something>" your business also somewhere made use of the color orange...

So, no, Krieg, it's not about affiliation with Walmart at all. If Kevin's Grocery down the corner started using smileys in their advertising or as a logo, chances are they'd soon hear from Walmart's lawyers.
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Antero Reply #24 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 04:59:03 AM
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Not your monkey.
 Smile "I represent Wal*Mart!  Yep, I used to be freelance, but now I'm working the major leagues!"
 Tongue "Hippies smell, anyhow."   Wink
;D "Now I've got my own office!  Six nice figures a year, and my secretary makes seven!"  Oh my god... :Smile
 ??? "'Why did I go corporate?' you ask?"
 Cool "I just wanted to finally get a taste of the good life, you know?"
 :-\ "Being a cultural symbol, it's hard work without much reward. Sure, everyone knows your name, but fame doesn't pay the bills."
 Cheesy "Now I'm finally getting my reward!  I deserve it, too.  I've worked such long hours, fought so hard..."  Sad "...and nothing seemed to come of it.  I got tired, you know?  Tired of fighting... tired of struggling...  :-\  tired of putting on a happy face even when it was all an act."
 :-[ "I just gave up.  I... I... I'm doing better now, honest.  The battle wasn't something we could ever hope to win... oh god, I'm dead inside." :'( "So cold.  I feel so cold and empty...  oh mommy, mommy where are you when I need you...?" :'(
 Oh my god... Angry "Ach!  No!  I'm fine!  Bad corporate lapdog, no biscuit!  Bad!"
 Cheesy "Ah hah hah what was I saying?  I'm so silly!"
 Smile "Boy, I sure love Wal*Mart!"
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In other news, here is a marmoset riding a turtle.
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Gudy Reply #25 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 05:30:50 AM
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JC Chasez in a Dr Huxtable sweater
The horror, the horror!

*gouges out his eyeballs*

I knew there was a reason why I only use smileys that don't get substituted into little cutesy pictures, and only use them sparingly, at that.
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"I have cultural differences with just about everybody nowadays. They watch TV and I don't." -- Allanque
"Ask for 100% of what you want. Be willing to hear 'No.' Negotiate for a win/win." -- Scix
"Any observed statistical regularity will tend to collapse once pressure is placed upon it for control purposes." -- Goodhart's Law
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Seven Reply #26 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 06:40:22 AM
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Mmmm, your so good to me Eggplant Mike
I hope they aren't going to trademark the 'Pocket The Difference' ass slap at the UK's Walmart, 'Asda', because if they are a lot of us are going to get in trouble for tapping that ass.
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Pixie Reply #27 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 06:41:33 AM
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*Giggle*

*Clink-Clink*

*SUED!*
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007bistromath Reply #28 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 09:40:03 AM
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Left his attack boots in China
Quote from: Krieg on May 09, 2006, 04:33:16 PM
"Sam's Place."
pssst

Those are the same dudes. They're both by Sam Walton.
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ninewhilenine Reply #29 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 09:46:24 AM
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You Better Believe It
Blasphemy! Forrest Gump invented that smiley face and I will not have a big faceless corporation take advantage of a sweet retarded guy!
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Badger Reply #30 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 09:51:59 AM
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Swift as a deer, size of a dog, head like a monkey
Quote from: 007bistromath on May 10, 2006, 09:40:03 AM
Quote from: Krieg on May 09, 2006, 04:33:16 PM
"Sam's Place."
pssst

Those are the same dudes. They're both by Sam Walton.

Wal-Mart has a spinoff called "Sam's Place"?  They must not have those where I've lived.  I just see Wal-Marts, Super Wal-Marts, MegaMarkets, and Sam's Clubs.

How many brands does the Walton family own?
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etphonehome Reply #31 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 10:29:03 AM
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MegaMarket? Never heard of those, they must not have made it to the upper midwest yet.
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My 2¢.
Badger Reply #32 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 03:34:06 PM
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Swift as a deer, size of a dog, head like a monkey
There is one in Columbia Missouri.  It was opened in the span of time between when Sam's Clubs started and Wal-Mart was looking at the grocery market (It was a big-ass warehouse style grocery store), but before the HyperMarts and SuperWal-Marts started being the combination Wal-Mart/grocery store.  I don't know if they ever opened very many, and they didn't (at least where I lived) publicize the connection much.  I just had some friends who worked there who told me that it was part of the Wal-Mart family.
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K Reply #33 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 10, 2006, 03:58:08 PM
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...there's a store called "Sam's Place"?

Whatthefuck.

I just pulled a store-sounding name with "Sam" in it out my ass. 'cos, you know, Sam Walton.
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Altara Reply #34 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 11, 2006, 12:58:55 AM
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Quote from: Seven on May 10, 2006, 06:40:22 AM
I hope they aren't going to trademark the 'Pocket The Difference' ass slap at the UK's Walmart, 'Asda', because if they are a lot of us are going to get in trouble for tapping that ass.

I. can't. stop. laughing.
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007bistromath Reply #35 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 11, 2006, 10:59:55 AM
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Left his attack boots in China
Quote from: Badger on May 10, 2006, 09:51:59 AM
Wal-Mart has a spinoff called "Sam's Place"?  They must not have those where I've lived.  I just see Wal-Marts, Super Wal-Marts, MegaMarkets, and Sam's Clubs.

How many brands does the Walton family own?
Oh yeah. I was thinking of Sam's Club. My bad.
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NoxEquites Reply #36 in Re: Walmart Trademarks Smiley Face — Posted May 15, 2006, 11:26:31 AM
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I make shiny things, you need them.
They might even go so far as to charge their customers a use fee for smiling. </sarcasm>
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I have shinies you want. http://kinshar.dreamhosters.com/
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