Thanks to Dean
Pannell (a.k.a. dinotrac), who writes:
Well, I know it ain’t your typical Linux story, however, given
that so many emoticons are Smiley Face wannabes ;0) 🙂 ;), the news
must impact everyone who has ever communicated online. That, it
would seem, includes every Linux user and developer.
Great sadness.
🙁
Of course, tomorrow is another day.
;0)
Editor’s Note:
According to Mr. Ball’s obituary
on Yahoo!, “Ball was paid $45 for his artwork by State Mutual
Life Assurance Cos. of America – now Allamerica – in 1963. He never
applied for a trademark or copyright.”
“At its peak of popularity in 1971, more than 50 million Smiley
Face buttons were sold. In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service issued a
Smiley Face stamp.”