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Pastimes : Thread Morons -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PatiBob who wrote (10289)	2/2/2001 1:53:07 PM
From: Jeffrey S. Mitchell	Respond to of 12810

Re: File this in the "wish I had thought of it first" bin... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Media Relations Email: media@despair.com Web: www.despair.com Fax: 214.826.1952 ABOVE: Dr. E.L.Kersten, Founder and COO of Despair, Inc., Announces Plans to Sue Millions for Trademark Infringement. DALLAS, TX - January 2nd, 2001 - In a move that has millions across the Internet community frowning, Despair, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had awarded them a registered trademark for the 'frowny' emoticon which serves as their logo. At a press conference, Despair's COO, Dr. E.L.Kersten, announced his intentions to sue "anyone and everyone who uses the so-called 'frowny' emoticon, or our trademarked logo, in their written email correspondence. Ever." Despair filed suit yesterday in a U.S. District Court in Dallas, alleging trademark infringement against over 7 million individual Internet users. The company has requested separate injunctions granted against each. It is believed to be the largest single trademark dispute in history... despair.com ===== Note: The ironic thing about this story is that Despair, Inc. actually did get a trademark for the 'frowny' emoticon. The PR about the lawsuit was intended to be facetious, but, as you might guess, created an outcry by those who believed it. Just imagine what might have happened had the trademark been granted to Priceline.com. ;^) - Jeff