face

[Victor Steinbok]

This piece may be worth reproducing in full:

http://goo.gl/ipWeT

Facebook Gets Greenlight to Trademark The Word 'Face'
Tracie McDaniel - November 26, 2010 6:31 AM


Already has claims on 'like' and 'wall'

The world's most popular social networking site is making an effort to
put its best "face" forward.  Facebook has received permission to move
ahead with its attempt to trademark the word 'face'.

This week the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of
Allowance indicating that Facebook is entitled to the trademark which it
sought in 2005, however it only applies to "telecommunication services,
namely providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for
transmission of messages among computer users in the field of general
interest and concerning social and entertainment subject matter."

A Statement of Use is the next step for Facebook.  The company now has
six months to show that it uses the trademark and pay a $100 fee, or
file for an extension for up to 36 months.

The term 'face' has become very popular since the launch of the social
networking site. According to domain name registrar GoDaddy.com, it has
53,000 domain names containing the word "face" in its databases.

In 2008 Facebook faced off with Faceparty.com, a U.K. based social
networking site that launched in 2000 and applied for a trademark of
"face" in 2005.  Facebook bought the company's trademark application.

Facebook is also attempting to lock down the word "book" as well.  The
California-based company has filed infringement lawsuits against
Lamebook, a parody site and Teachbook.com, a community site for
teachers.  Placebook, a travel site changed its name to TripTrace after
a confrontation with Facebook.

Facebook has already snagged trademark applications on the world "Like"
and "Wall."

The company's current trademark bid shouldn't interfere with Apple's
mobile video calling service Facetime.  Apple has a trademark on the term.

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