TrollFace

Trollface is a rage comic meme image of a character wearing a mischievous smile, used to symbolize Internet trolls and Internet trolling. It is one of the oldest and most widely known rage comic faces.

Contents

 * 1History
 * 2Usage
 * 3Copyright
 * 4Impact
 * 5References

History
Trollface was drawn in Microsoft Paint on September 19, 2008 by Carlos Ramirez, an 18-year-old Oakland college student living with his parents. The image was published on Ramirez's DeviantArt page, "Whynne", as part of a rage comic titled Trolls, about the pointless nature of trolling. Ramirez posted the image to the imageboard website 4chan and within a day other users of the site shared it. In the following months, Ramirez' drawing quickly gained traction on 4chan as the universal emoticon of an Internet troll and a versatile rage comic character. From 4chan, Trollface spread to Reddit and Urban Dictionary in 2009, eventually reaching other Internet image-sharing sites like Imgur and Facebook.

On April 8th, 2015, Kotaku ran an in-depth interview article with Ramirez about his now-iconic rage comic character. In the article, the Trollface artist estimated that he has earned more than $100,000 in licensing fees, settlements and other payouts since registering with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2010, with monthly revenues reaching as high as $15,000 at its peak in popularity. In addition, Ramirez also offered a backstory behind the removal of Meme Run from Wii U eShop.

Usage
Trollface shows an Internet troll, someone who annoys others on the Internet for their own amusement. The original comic by Ramirez mocked trolls; however, the image is widely used by trolls. Trollface has been described as the Internet equivalent of the children's taunt "nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah" or sticking one's tongue out. The image is often accompanied by phrases such as "Problem?" or "You mad, bro?".

Racist and antisemitic versions of Trollface also exist, including depictions of Trollface as a Nazi, Adolf Hitler, or a Jewish caricature, which have been used by users of 4chan and similar sites as a hate symbol.

Copyright
Ramirez registered Trolls with the United States Copyright Office July 27, 2010. He says he has since received over $100,000 in licensing fees and other payouts associated with Trollface, including from licensing for shirts emblazoned with the face being sold by the retail chain Hot Topic.

The video game Meme Run for Nintendo's Wii U console was taken down for copyright infringement for including Trollface as the main character.

Trollface is not trademarked.

Impact
Man in Trollface makeup at Dragon Con 2011. Trollface was described by La Tercera as "the father of memes". A bust of Trollface was exhibited at the Mexico City museum Museo del Meme.

In March 2012, a viral video showed a banner emblazoned with Trollface and the word "Problem?" being used by fans of the Turkish team Eskişehirspor to protest a rule change.

In the Black Mirror episode "Shut Up and Dance", the blackmailers send Trollface photographs after they leak the victims' secrets in spite of their compliance.

Trollface is occasionally used as a Halloween costume and cosplay character.