Silly/Odd News Stories from around the World

[Mr. DJ]

Remember when Easter Egg Hunts were fun? Apparently these parents don't...

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"Facebook is trying to expand its trademark rights over the word “book” by adding
the claim to a newly revised version of its “Statement of Rights and
Responsibilities,” the agreement all users implicitly consent to by using or accessing
Facebook.

You may recall that Facebook has launched multiple lawsuits against websites
incorporating the word “book” into their names. Facebook, as far as we can tell,
doesn’t have a registered trademark on “book.” But trademark rights can be
asserted based on use of a term, even if the trademark isn’t registered, and adding
the claim to Facebook’s user agreement could boost the company’s standing in
future lawsuits filed against sites that use the word."

See:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...ook-trademark/

Heard of Macbook? Let's wait for Apple to fight back, it is going to be hilarious.

Anyway, that TOC would be automatically invalidated in any country with UCTA and a proper copyright law, The trademark is too generic.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Mr. DJ

Remember when Easter Egg Hunts were fun? Apparently these parents don't...

And this is one of the indicators we're corroding as a society. These are the children of the children who weren't "raised" but rather left to their little bohemian selves because the boomers were too busy

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

I haven't read the article yet but that sounds similar to the law suit between Notch (creator of Minecraft) and Bethseda. Basically they argued that him calling a game Scrolls was to close to their Elder Scrolls series and could confuse (moronic) people. Not saying it's the same but it sounds similar.

You shouldn't be able to TM a single word unless it's the name of your company IMO. Corporations just preventing competition this way.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"Facebook is trying to expand its trademark rights over the word “book” by adding
the claim to a newly revised version of its “Statement of Rights and
Responsibilities,” the agreement all users implicitly consent to by using or accessing
Facebook.

You may recall that Facebook has launched multiple lawsuits against websites
incorporating the word “book” into their names. Facebook, as far as we can tell,
doesn’t have a registered trademark on “book.” But trademark rights can be
asserted based on use of a term, even if the trademark isn’t registered, and adding
the claim to Facebook’s user agreement could boost the company’s standing in
future lawsuits filed against sites that use the word."

See:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...ook-trademark/

Microsoft tried that with Windows.... I guess the kids at Facebook dropped out of school too early to learn their history

[ganbaru]

Tiny puppy in California could be world's smallest
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...03-26-20-16-05

[sa547]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"Facebook is trying to expand its trademark rights over the word “book” by adding
the claim to a newly revised version of its “Statement of Rights and
Responsibilities,” the agreement all users implicitly consent to by using or accessing
Facebook.

You may recall that Facebook has launched multiple lawsuits against websites
incorporating the word “book” into their names. Facebook, as far as we can tell,
doesn’t have a registered trademark on “book.” But trademark rights can be
asserted based on use of a term, even if the trademark isn’t registered, and adding
the claim to Facebook’s user agreement could boost the company’s standing in
future lawsuits filed against sites that use the word."

See:

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...ook-trademark/

This isn't new; the worst of them all was that audio/video cable/equipment maker, who tried to sue anyone using the name Monster.

[MrTerrorist]

Taiwanese Weather Girls Ripped Off By Chinese Weather Girls

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Taiwanese Weather Girls Ripped Off By Chinese Weather Girls

Can't wait to watch them dance the Next Big Typhoon report... o.O

[MrTerrorist]

Napoleon... the theme park

This is not a joke it's real since it's got the backing of government, tourism officials and the Bonaparte family.

[Sumeragi]

That idea was around months ago.

[aohige]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Taiwanese Weather Girls Ripped Off By Chinese Weather Girls

Quick, someone post that image of the Chinese deformed Haruhi!

[Paranoid Android]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Taiwanese Weather Girls Ripped Off By Chinese Weather Girls

Are we supposed to laugh at China for being late for the bandwagon? And what's Taiwanese Weather Report to take credit for this idea? This moe-ification of reporters in media has existed for everything everywhere.

The only thing I'm bothered by (not limited to chinese) is these kind of girls try to be all cutesy in the wrong direction and make me believe they're mentally challenged ;__;, and then I stop watching whatever program it is.

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

I'm curious as to when the five minutes for the weather report became so boring that cutiefied or near naked women have to report it to us.

[ganbaru]

It might be to be more appart the competition, to have a little extra.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Mr Hat and Clogs

I'm curious as to when the five minutes for the weather report became so boring that cutiefied or near naked women have to report it to us.

Keep your trap shut. We are supposed to show the broadcasters that weather reports are so boring that they need to recruit cute girls to report it!

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

I'm just jealous, I don't get them down here.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Keep your trap shut. We are supposed to show the broadcasters that weather reports are so boring that they need to recruit cute girls to report it!

I will remind you than about half their audience is female: do you want to see them using that kind of trick but intended to them ?

To me weather and news broadcast should try to keep some professional appearance, even if what they say is bullshit.

[GDB]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

To me weather and news broadcast should try to keep some professional appearance, even if what they say is bullshit.

For news, sure, but weather? You can go online and see the weather report for your area or anyone's area. You can look at it hourly, daily, or quite a few other combinations. All in a matter of seconds or minutes, and it's easy to read. With the weather channel or weather report (which you need to wait for it to come on), you need to wait for your area or the area you want to know about. You have to wait for them to get to what you want to know for that area. And then you need to be able to discern it quickly, because it doesn't stay on an area for long.

So really, they need all the help they can get to compete against the internet.

[Endless Soul]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Taiwanese Weather Girls Ripped Off By Chinese Weather Girls

That article lead me to THIS article:

Originally Posted by The Article

Often time's internet famous in China can equate to becoming really famous and netizens can get paid to talk about and promote products and companies on their personal profiles. So the question now becomes how does a profile gain attention? In China it's as easy as going online to Taobao.com (similar to eBay marketplace) and doing a search for "fensi "(粉丝) or "fans" in Chinese. A quick search on Taobao looking for fans brings up a lot of hits.

One Taobao store offers 1000 fans for 4RMB and 10000 fans for a 36RMB. That's 10000 people "liking" your profile for a measly $5.71!

Full article here.

That's a very interesting marketing ploy. And check out the picture of a room full of "fans."

Endless "Paid fan" Soul