MOTHER JONES BY E-MAIL

«--Previous Post | Blog Index | Next Post--»

Have a Nice Day: Wal-Mart Doesn't Control the Smiley Face

Happy happy joy joy. Wal-Mart has lost its claim that it alone owns the smiley face. Last week, a federal judge ruled that the websites Walocaust and Wal-Qaeda have the right to spoof the company's smiley-face logo. It's not the first time the chain has wrangled over possession of the vapidly feel-good '70s icon; in 2006 a French businessman who claimed to have invented it tried to block Wal-Mart's attempt to trademark it. (The real creator of the smiley actually appears to be this guy—and not Forrest Gump, either.) The store won that round, saving us from the disaster that would have been Freedom Smileys. But at least the French smileys would have been allowed to unionize.

Comments

Jonah Goldberg must be relieved that he won't be sued like an accident victim.

Posted by: Kyle on 03/28/08 at 12:07 PM Respond

The Waltons really do think they own everyone and everything. I'm glad to see not everyone agrees.

Posted by: Buffy on 03/28/08 at 12:51 PM Respond

I hate Wal-Mart...
Don't like the Walton's politics nor how they treat their employees, especially the women.
SHOP TARGET!!!!

Posted by: Patti on 03/28/08 at 12:55 PM Respond

Haha....

Posted by: Nancy on 03/28/08 at 2:15 PM Respond

Posted by: Nancy on 03/28/08 at 2:16 PM Respond

Wal-Mart is now in negotiations with J. K. Rowling for the exclusive rights to Voldermort....

Posted by: Egalitare on 03/28/08 at 2:43 PM Respond

This just MADE my day....there is a website you need to visit on Wally World...I promise
you it will BLOW your mind....
www.wakeupwalmart.com

Here comes the
"always low price"..again...
You will never see...
Sam Walton's "Made in America"
But then again it was just the beginning Foreign Goods..
You still can buy U.S.A. Made in American items,on line you need to do your home work though..I have begun to pull food out of my pantry,call the 800 #..
I let them know WHY I am calling,about..to check where contents came from,usually All of the contents,come Foreign countries.and packaged here in the US..I remind them as a consumer I have a legal right to know..Then I let them know that they will be going on by Thumbs up or Thumbs down list...It totally freaks them out...I'm boycotting...All chain Stories.....and you know which ones....
There are some food items that have to be imported,but do you research..That's called FREE TRADE..And just to let you know Canada is ALL so on my Thumbs Down List..
I know I got off track with my commit..Sorry..but it is touchy subject with me...We need to be more aware of What we are buying and from Where..
I hope I have NOT a fended anyone or broke any rules...

Posted by: Marsha Hendershot on 03/28/08 at 4:10 PM Respond

I`m worried that george bush,will invade France,for abducting Waltons Happy Face,but at the same time,i can`t imagine what this is doing to the Walton family,this whole thing is tearing our country apart...steve

Posted by: steve on 03/29/08 at 3:04 AM Respond

I'll draw a happy face on my ass just to piss off Wal-mart.
Can't stand that turncoat retailer.

Posted by: Glenn on 03/30/08 at 1:51 PM Respond

Mother Jones is really on the RJ Reynolds payroll? Consider this my last post and last visit - goodbye with utter disgust - hope that money buys you insulation from knowing you help poison people to death - goodbye.

Posted by: Justin on 03/31/08 at 6:55 AM Respond