Whether you are playing MineSweeper, exchanging emails or using Yahoo Messenger, yellow Smileys formed by typing a colon and a right bracket have always encouraged you to smile or share your happiness.

Even Wal-Mart extensively uses the smiley face on staff uniforms, handbags, shopping trolleys and promotional signs. But things just got a little :( as Walmart had staked a claim for the smiley face logo.

Many would think that smiley face is available in the public domain but Wal-mart is locked in a patent battle with London based SmileyWorld over the rights to the Smiley Logo. Wal-Mart insists that studies prove a high association between the company and Mr. Smiley.

Source: LA Times | Slate | BBC