(Article) Google Forbids Misuse of "Google" as a Verb

To google or not to google? It's a legal question

,----[ Quote ]

Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
them against using its name as a verb.
`----

http://news.independent.co.uk/busine...cle1218805.ece

Shouldn't they just blame Webster?

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

Bollocks to them. Everyone hoovers, whether or not with a Hoover.

__/ [ Phil Payne ] on Monday 14 August 2006 17:19 \__

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

Bollocks to them. Everyone hoovers, whether or not with a Hoover.

Personally, I think they deter businesses from delivering some free
advertisements. As in Xeron... or Podcast... among many other examples. On
the other hand, it can lead to suspicion that there is a monopoly here,
which can drive prospective customers away... Very similar to a scenario of
excessive advertisement, which makes loyal customers feel betrayed. Makes
brainwash appear like a dominating factor in the choice. Think about Coca
Cola... or even the reluctance to ever advertise GNU/Linux.

Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote:

To google or not to google? It's a legal question

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

They can google it up their asses for all I care.

Adobe also doesn't like how we photoshop :-D.

--
John

Google Suggest Perl script http://johnbokma.com/perl/google-suggest.html

__/ [ John Bokma ] on Monday 14 August 2006 17:50 \__

Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote:

To google or not to google? It's a legal question

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

They can google it up their asses for all I care.

Adobe also doesn't like how we photoshop :-D.

I wonder if you saw that in Digg too (link to Adobe's site). Some guy in
another newsgroup added intentional misuse of 'photoshop' to his .sig. Been
there ever since...

"Roy Schestowitz" <newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote

To google or not to google? It's a legal question

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

http://news.independent.co.uk/busine...cle1218805.ece

Shouldn't they just blame Webster?

I think it is a condition of trademarks that you have to
defend them, if they are seen to allow people to use it
they can lose the trademark.

--
T.J.
http://www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:26:38 +0100, Roy Schestowitz
<newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote:

__/ [ Phil Payne ] on Monday 14 August 2006 17:19 \__

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

Bollocks to them. Everyone hoovers, whether or not with a Hoover.

Personally, I think they deter businesses from delivering some free
advertisements. As in Xeron...

Surely Xerox?

I'm reminded of an episode of Hercules, where the lesser gods were
having a painting competiton. Hercules strode among them, admonishing
one thus; "Xerox - stop copying!"

BB
--
http://www.here-be-posters.co.uk/mar...e-pictures.htm
http://www.kruse.co.uk/seo-maintenance.htm
http://www.crystal-liaison.com/artis...una-glass.html

On 14 Aug 2006 09:19:17 -0700, "Phil Payne"
<phil (AT) isham-research (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations, warning
| them against using its name as a verb.
`----

Bollocks to them. Everyone hoovers, whether or not with a Hoover.

They might reasonably not want it to become generic for web search, as
in "I Googled with MSN last night".

BB
--
http://www.here-be-posters.co.uk/mar...e-pictures.htm
http://www.kruse.co.uk/seo-maintenance.htm
http://www.crystal-liaison.com/artis...una-glass.html

Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote:

__/ [ John Bokma ] on Monday 14 August 2006 17:50 \__

Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote:

To google or not to google? It's a legal question

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations,
| warning them against using its name as a verb.
`----

They can google it up their asses for all I care.

Adobe also doesn't like how we photoshop :-D.

I wonder if you saw that in Digg too

No, I was aware of Adobe's verb dislike well before I had heard of digg
:-) There is no way to stop such things, let alone forbid it.

--
John Freelance Perl programmer: http://castleamber.com/

A better start menu with Quick Launch:
http://johnbokma.com/windows/quick-launch.html

"T.J." <no1 (AT) home (DOT) invalid> wrote in
news:e4qdnVnLt-T1L33ZnZ2dnUVZ8qKdnZ2d (AT) bt (DOT) com:

"Roy Schestowitz" <newsgroups (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:2083223.MgGiKxoiSl (AT) schestowitz (DOT) com...
To google or not to google? It's a legal question

,----[ Quote ]
| Search engine giant Google, known for its mantra "don't be evil",
| has fired off a series of legal letters to media organisations,
| warning them against using its name as a verb.
`----

http://news.independent.co.uk/busine...cle1218805.ece

Shouldn't they just blame Webster?


I think it is a condition of trademarks that you have to
defend them, if they are seen to allow people to use it
they can lose the trademark.

'tis true, at least here in the USA, that by not defending the trademark,
you're giving implicit consent to its use by others.


--
Karl Groves
www.karlcore.com