Facebook Moves Closer Towards TradeMarking “FACE”

As of today, FACEBOOK INC has survived the opposition period and has consequently moved 1 step closer towards trademarking the word FACE across the globe.

Click here to view the application to trademark the word FACE (USPTO.GOV application serial number 78980756)

"FACE" Trademark Application by FACEBOOK INC

The notice of allowance date reads November 23rd, 2010 (today).  According to the USPTO, NOA, or Notice of Allowance, is a written notification from the USPTO that a specific mark has survived the opposition period following publication in the Official Gazette, and has consequently been allowed for registration. It does not mean that the mark has registered yet. Receiving a notice of allowance is another step on the way to registration.

"Hey Apple FACEtime, my suits will be coming after you!"

The application to Trademark FACE was filed nearly 5 years ago, in december of 2005 under the “Goods And/Or Services” Class. The class description reads

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

I have so many questions on this trademark application, I don’t know where to start.

• Since FaceTime can be considered “social and entertainment”, will Zuckerberg sue Apple for using FACEtime as an application name?
• Does letter casing matter in Trademarks of words?
• Will Facebook Inc go after any website that has the word FACE in it’s URL? For example..
  • http://FaceCook.com
  • http://FaceChat.com
  • http://FaceMash.com
  • http://FaceSuck.com
  • http://FaceCrap.com
  • http://FaceFuck.com (caution NSFW)
  • http://Face<insert_rest_of_url_here>.

  the list goes on and on…

• On Facebook.com, will Zuckerberg censor and ban any mobile app on website that uses the word FACE anywhere in it’s app or website, citing the trademark class? Will he disable and kill the Facebook fan pages and users of such apps and websites?
• Does Facebook have another tradeMark application for the word “BOOK” lurking somewhere on the USPTO.GOV site, that we don’t know about yet? (Can someone more versed with Trademarks and Patents research this for us please!)

What do you think will happen if Facebook Inc does indeed acquire this trademark on the word “FACE” ?