The story pretty much speaks for itself. American Network Operator Cingular has applied for a patent to "[allow] a user of a mobile phone (or other device) to select a displayable icon, such as an emoticon, that indicates the mood or emotion of the user or conveys other information independent of text." To which I say 😞
Read on in the full article.
Only in America.
Without even looking at the patent, I suppose there's plenty of "prior art" of that sort to show the meritlessness of such a patent (unless it was actually filed 10 years ago, or something like that).
thast f-ing rediculous!!!does that mean that now whenever we use emtions in txts dat we are breaking the law??
Not yet as it's only an application. I can't actuualy believe anyone would actually have the nerve to even try it. There's a person out there who decided to do it. I can not imagine how you could possibly justify it! 😞