Microsoft frowned at for smiley patent

Another example why the patent software system in america is a non sense, and how M$ is really going to far away and too often!

A software patent filed by Microsoft in the US has been described as ‘very dangerous’ 
Various organisations have criticised Microsoft for attempting to patent the creation of custom emoticons.
Read more HERE at Ziff Davis UK

Why You may ask? just because they want to protect MSN messenger using a legal weapon…
I recommend You to use today: GAIM for example

Gaim is a multi-protocol instant messaging (IM) client for #Linux, BSD, MacOS X, and Windows. It is compatible with AIM and ICQ (Oscar protocol), MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, GroupWise Messenger, and Zephyr networks. Gaim users can log in to multiple accounts on multiple IM networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on AOL Instant Messenger, talking to a friend on Yahoo Messenger, and sitting in an IRC channel all at the same time. 

 or Skype or  any variant available under windows.