Facebook to trademark the word 'face'

[Prolescum]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11837939

The social networking giant Facebook is a few steps away from trademarking the word face, online documents reveal.

The 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.

It could limit the use of the word in other social networks and services, such as Apple's Facetime, lawyers said.

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.

I think faecebook.com is still up for grabs...

 

[MRaverz]

So what happens to face.com?

 

[Shaedys]

I don't think face.com is used as a social networking site to exchange messages.

 

[Andiferous]

Trademark mes face but cash in on mes privacy. Nice! There is a cool kind of irony here.

 

[Duvelthehobbit666]

Any word already in existence and use should not be trademarked no matter how it is used or who thought of it. Its just stupid. It is as if LoR were to trademark the word smilie as in use of forums. Its just dumb.