Facebook To Trademark "Face"

Facebook has received notice that they are about to own the trademark on the word "face" whenever it is used in a social media context. There goes your idea for GayFace.com.

The trademark covers the word face only in the context of “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, none primarily featuring or relating to motoring or to cars,” the pending document reads. While the context in which the trademark can be enforced is quite narrow, it’s still scary to see Facebook owning a trademark for a term as general as “face.”

The company is also working to own the word "book" for social media purposes and has filed suit against a site calling itself Teachbook.