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Not only do people use emojis, they also tip the creators. Rumi is among millions of emojis that have been created in China, as design companies and groups of artists sprout up across the nation.Īnalysts say the screen symbols have become a burgeoning IP business, albeit one that needs further development and protection to maximize its value.Įmojis, which have evolved from character-based emoticons, are part and parcel of a great many messages exchanged by users of instant-messaging apps, social media and email.Īn increasing number of users, especially the young, love to use emojis because they help spice up their messages with slick meanings, moods or states of mind that are best expressed quickly, not in words, but through interesting or funny images. Take for example Rumi, a panda-like emoji that has been downloaded on social media more than 340 million times. Emojis, the latest form of intellectual property, are turning out to be a moneymaker in China and well worth further protection from piracy.