In what is liekly to rank as the worst business plan of modern times, French company E-Flicker has registered the 'headless man' logo and slogan 'We are Anonymous, We do not forgive, We do not forget. Expect us' with the national trademark body, the National Institute of Industrial Property.

The company, who specialise in graphic design also operate under the name Easy Flicker, are based in Paris and is run by a freelance web designer, Apollinaire Auffret and has gained approval to use the logo and slogan on items as diverse as umbrellas, rucsacs and kitchen utensials as well as clothing.

Anonymous has hit back with a stern warning, "Their arrogance and ignorance of what they have done will not go unpunished," they said in a video . "Anonymous will take down any business they have going on the internet and the ninety nine per cent will not stop until the registration has been revoked and a public apology has been made. The name of Anonymous will not be the whore of the world."

There are indications that Anonymous is preparing for an assault on the company's servers, as notes of suspected vulnerabilities have been posted in places where Anonymous activists discuss such matters.

Auffret's personal information has already been accessed and is cerculating, but not in the full public release associated with the hacker group.

One of Auffret's sites is already selling Anonymous merchandise, though perhaps not for much longer...

He should have expected that.