Google’s lawyers are trying to crackdown on people using Google as a verb. Yes, that’s what lawyers do. But what makes it especially absurd is that every new internet company dreams of becoming a verb.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, August 13th, 2006 at 1:26 pm.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
They are at real risk of loosing trademark protection for the name Google unless they demonstrate that they have made commercially reasonable efforts to protect it. If “google” enters Webster’s as a generic term for internet searching, Google will have to send Webster’s a pro forma letter every year protesting their misuse of the
Kimberly Clark does not have trademark protection on the name “Kleenex” but does have trademark protection on the distinctive script in which it is written.
Here in the UK people regularly use ‘to hoover’ to mean ‘to use a vacuum cleaner’ and the firm’s copyright lawyers crack down on it whenever they see it in a newspaper or book. Another example over here is ’sellotape’ instead of ’sticky tape’. Perhaps these terms spring up whenever a new industry arises.
I would guess the Guardian paper styleguide (and other style guides) would have a paragraph about that, and you can probably google other examples as well.
Sounds very stupid though - I think they’re fighting a losing cause.
The reason why I think this is stupid is that when people say they’re going to “google” something, they are specifically referring to the act of logging onto Google and using that specific site to do a search. People don’t use Yahoo! or Ask.com search when they say they’re going to google something, they use Google in particular. It’s great buzzbuilding and word-of-mouth advertising.
It’s different than people using “Xerox” as a generic term for all forms of copying or people using “hoover” to describe all types of vacuuming. The use of Google as a verb strengthens the brand, the others are examples of the weakening of the brand.
T: It’s gonna happen. People will eventually say “google” and mean “web search”.
“Photoshopping” evolved the same way. At one time, people used it “specifically referring to the act of launching Adobe Photoshop and using that specific application to alter an image”, now it just means “alter an image”.
[...] Google this, GoogleGoogle s lawyers are trying to crackdown on people using Google as a verb. Yes, that s what lawyers do. But what makes it especially absurd is that every new internet company dreams of becoming a verb. [...]
Whether Google likes it or not, the movement has begun, and “googling” will become yet another verb on the street. Accepting this and not trying to monopolize it will keep people on the side of Google, rather than estranging them through outrageous nitpicking.
August 13th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Hmm… well, when I buy Kleenex, I prefer Puffs.
August 13th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
They are at real risk of loosing trademark protection for the name Google unless they demonstrate that they have made commercially reasonable efforts to protect it. If “google” enters Webster’s as a generic term for internet searching, Google will have to send Webster’s a pro forma letter every year protesting their misuse of the
Kimberly Clark does not have trademark protection on the name “Kleenex” but does have trademark protection on the distinctive script in which it is written.
See here http://ecommercelaw.typepad.com/ecommerce_law/2006/07/avoiding_tradem.html
http://www.allbusiness.com/periodicals/article/993921-1.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genericized_trademark
August 13th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Hey, at least the verb “google” matches what you do with the noun “Google”
Just ask the Hormel meat packing company how well their trademark “Spam” has grown as a verb.
August 13th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
I’m an adjective, which is excellent.
August 13th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Here in the UK people regularly use ‘to hoover’ to mean ‘to use a vacuum cleaner’ and the firm’s copyright lawyers crack down on it whenever they see it in a newspaper or book. Another example over here is ’sellotape’ instead of ’sticky tape’. Perhaps these terms spring up whenever a new industry arises.
I would guess the Guardian paper styleguide (and other style guides) would have a paragraph about that, and you can probably google other examples as well.
Sounds very stupid though - I think they’re fighting a losing cause.
August 13th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
Then why in the hell are they asking everyone to “Google Pontiac” in their commercial?
Isn’t that a joint advertisment between the two brands?
August 13th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
The reason why I think this is stupid is that when people say they’re going to “google” something, they are specifically referring to the act of logging onto Google and using that specific site to do a search. People don’t use Yahoo! or Ask.com search when they say they’re going to google something, they use Google in particular. It’s great buzzbuilding and word-of-mouth advertising.
It’s different than people using “Xerox” as a generic term for all forms of copying or people using “hoover” to describe all types of vacuuming. The use of Google as a verb strengthens the brand, the others are examples of the weakening of the brand.
August 13th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
T: It’s gonna happen. People will eventually say “google” and mean “web search”.
“Photoshopping” evolved the same way. At one time, people used it “specifically referring to the act of launching Adobe Photoshop and using that specific application to alter an image”, now it just means “alter an image”.
Not saying that’s good or bad, just inevitable.
August 14th, 2006 at 9:52 am
[...] Googles lawayers don’t want you to use “Google” as a verb–well scroogle them! [...]
August 14th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
They have a lot product these day..maybe they want to monopoly all aspect on the internet..
August 15th, 2006 at 1:00 am
[...] Google this, GoogleGoogle s lawyers are trying to crackdown on people using Google as a verb. Yes, that s what lawyers do. But what makes it especially absurd is that every new internet company dreams of becoming a verb. [...]
September 11th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
Whether Google likes it or not, the movement has begun, and “googling” will become yet another verb on the street. Accepting this and not trying to monopolize it will keep people on the side of Google, rather than estranging them through outrageous nitpicking.