Russian Scamming

Just recently a Russian businessman claimed to have trademarked--meaning he supposedly now owns the copyright--the winky eyed emoticon. And he wants to charge companies for using it.

Blueey!

In the BBC news article, I loved the following quote: "You're not likely to find any retards in Russia who'll pay [the alleged company] for the use of emoticons".

The really disturbing fact is that the Russian federal patent agency supposedly gave this man the copyright. This while Russia is trying to re-emerge from its USSR days, with Putin at the helm.

Or not at the helm. He had to step down from official leadership, but is apparently planning to return to power after manipulating the Russian parliment. Mark my words--he is a scary SOB who will, and has, used energy supplies as a weapon and seeks to re-assert Soviet influence.

I'm not bear-scary and Russia is hardly the bastion of communism these days, but he is one to watch out for.