Google says... Stop Googling Youself!

[CrankyDave]

ROFL!

It seems Google is none too pleased they made it into the dictionary as a verb. Fearing they'll lose the marketing power of their trademark, one of their trademark lawyers sent a handwritten letter to Washington Post who decided to mark the auspicious occaision with an article.

Hmmmmm... you didn't seem to have a problem with the automobile manufacturers suggesting in their televsion ads that we "Google" them now did you?

You got what you wanted Google. Calling "do over" NOW is just a bit late.

Elvis has left the building.

Dave

[alph]

Yep...the word is out there now...no turning back. I guess unless they want MORE publicity about it !

[FIVE539]

haha...wow..yes it is a quite common phrase around here

[wrmineo]

Cool find Dave - thanks for sharing.

They don't seem to mind hearing their name in primetime shows and getting that free marketing, but apparently there's an appropriateness level ...

Did the kettle just call the pot black?

Sorry G - you can't have your cake and eat it too, regardless of how much money or how many lawyers you have.

[ScottHughes]

When anyone I know says "google it", they literally mean, go perform a google search for it. So, that's good for google.

[1EightT]

I don't see how this is bad. As the above posted stated, when someone says to google something they literally mean go to google and search for it.

[soniqhost.com]

I would think they would want people basically give them free advertising.

[Kaabi]

I googled that hottie

[johnweb]

They can feel free to substitute any of my domains for the verb if they want, and no lawyers will send them a letter.

[Tara33]

Taken from: http://battellemedia.com/archives/002795.php

"It's the same problem Xerox has with copying, or Kleenex with facial tissue. In short, Google might lose its trademark due to - overwhelming association with the problem its brand solves."

I don't believe Google are correct in their summation, that their name will turn into an "association" with web search.

I agree with ScottHughes' comment above; to "Google" something, LITERALLY means to USE GOOGLE to do a web search.

On the other hand, regarding Kleenex and Xerox, these names DO NOT denote use of the brand, which is referred to. I don't see this happening with Google. The market for facial tissue and copiers is much larger than the search engine market (I would think so anyway).

[gford]

I also don't get why google is concerned about this. Quite odd..

[Coolalex]

google is the best search engine. as long as people know that they will continue to use them.

[wrmineo]

The word "google" was first used in the 1927 Little Rascals silent film "Dog Heaven", used to refer to a having a drink of water.


.... hmm, sounds like Google could have a lawsuit on their hands, doesn't seem like such an original idea and deviation from the term googol that we once thought

[infonote]

I am sure Google does not worry about this, except if it is used for commerical purposes.

For the rest it improves the brand reputation of Google

[Icheb]

There's already a thread about this:
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=121232

[abrahamdomain]

wow. that google made it to the dictionary is a joke. Soon it would be the Oxford Concise english dictionary.

[Obelia]

In short, Google might lose its trademark due to - overwhelming association with the problem its brand solves.

Maybe that's why they're trying to diversify so furiously? They should start selling soft drinks, so we could google them too.

[wrmineo]

I wonder if Google ever googles Google? Sorry ... don't tell me I'm the only corny one to think that outloud??

[affihq]

It is common for a company to threaten lawsuits for publicity purposes, I think this is somewhat the same thing, also they don't want a slew of websites and companies with the name google in them.

[CrankyDave]

Originally Posted by wrmineo

I wonder if Google ever googles Google? Sorry ... don't tell me I'm the only corny one to think that outloud??

So far... yes.

Dave