Facebook plans to get patent for the word 'face' to protect, build brand

Social networking site Facebook is planning to trademark the word 'face' as it wants to stop other companies from using the term in a way which damages its own brand, media reports said.

The trademark is expected to be rubber stamped by the US Patent Office in the next six months if all paperwork is completed even as the first stage of the bid has been approved.

The site will need to demonstrate that it is using the trademark and file a ‘statement of use’ in the next phase over the next six months ahead of getting an approval.

However, the general public will still be able to use 'face' without fear of breaking the law, reports the Daily Mail.

In Facebook's case, it only applies to, “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,” the report was quoted as saying.

Officials said Facebook’s application is likely to go through without objection so long as it pays the necessary fees.

The U.S. Patent And Trademark Office has already allowed a period for objections. No objections were raised, reports said.