Privatizing the English Language and the "Smiley" symbol

Wallmart is claiming ownership of the "smiley" symbol, according to this article in the UK's Independent. The article concludes as follows:

A bit like smileys themselves, the trademarking of common words has become endemic. Apple Computers wanted to claim ownership of the word "apple", and McDonald's has trademarked more than a hundred words and phrases such as "Have you had your break today?".

The privatisation of the English language has been under way for some time - the battle is merely moving to the sphere of symbols.

And, here's to Wallmart :-)