Google Goes From Web to Webster's , May Loose its TM

[thegenius1]

Google is officially a verb.

Google Inc.'s eponymous search engine became a sanctioned part of the English language Thursday, when "google" — with a small "g" — earned an entry among the 165,000 or so terms in the 11th edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.


Google risks losing the value of its corporate trademark, he pointed out, if it becomes part of everyday speech.

Google appreciates the problem. In its 2005 annual report to investors, the Mountain View, Calif., company noted that "there is a risk that the word 'Google' could become so commonly used that it becomes synonymous with the word 'search.' If this happens, we could lose protection for our trademark, which could result in other people using the word 'Google' to refer to their own products."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationw...7jul07,0,5674422.story?coll=la-home-headlines

 

[Static]

Well, I can tell you that many people around me often say, "If you google for it...", "Why don't you google it.", etc. In a way, it shows how much Google can have an affect on us. But in a way, I can also see how Google is a bit worried about this.

Wow... What a dillemma..

 

[Ronald Regging]

I don't think Google has anything to worry about.
Look at Kleenex for example... It's probably as synonymous with tissues as Google is with searching...

Whats the reason that Kleenex held onto it's TM in light of the assimilation of the term into every day culture? The fact that the name was completely made up. As is Google. If you look on www.m-w.com at both the entries for Kleenex and Google, you'll notice the entries both affirm that the word is in fact a TM. By including this in the entry, it does not dilute Google's TM, but actually strengthens it.

Also, I have to admit that I never used Google until about 5 months ago, I always used Yahoo. So I can honestly say I've never said or heard someone say, "google it," but I don't work in an office either.

 

[Monsterman]

Also, I have to admit that I never used Google until about 5 months ago, I always used Yahoo. So I can honestly say I've never said or heard someone say, "google it," but I don't work in an office either.[/QUOTE]

Do you live in the United States. You have never heard of "google it" I must hear that 5 times a day. I also work from home.

 

[BurninDragon08]

Why doesn't everyone leave Google alone! LOL. They have had so many problems.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Interesting possibility, and it's worth noting that "google" isn't "made up" in the same sense that kleenex is, but in its current incarnation it's certainly more than a descriptive TM.
However, the chances of them losing TM potential is almost slim-to-none, if for no other reason than they have some high-priced suits making sure they don't I won't not take this as an opportunity to register "googleproducts.com" and claim protection based on some dictionary entry
-Allan :gl:

 

[thegenius1]

Also, I have to admit that I never used Google until about 5 months ago, I always used Yahoo. So I can honestly say I've never said or heard someone say, "google it," but I don't work in an office either.

Im sorry but you must work for Yahoo or some other search engine , Because " Google it " is actually a Verb in most peoples dialect... I mean i even seen people with shirts on that say it .. Com on tell who do you work for ? Is it Jeeves or Ask ? LOL j/k

 

[GeneCosta]

I tell my grandmother to "google it", even though she uses Yahoo search engine. :hehe:

I don't see why Google should lose its TM. It was a company name way before becoming a word.

 

[Ronald Regging]

Interesting possibility, and it's worth noting that "google" isn't "made up" in the same sense that kleenex is, but in its current incarnation it's certainly more than a descriptive TM.

I've never heard of google being used... Googol, as in googolplex, but not google.

And no, I've never heard anyone say "google it"... and yes I live in the US.
And I wish I worked for one of those companies, because than I'd probably be making a decent living..

 

[brycer22]

I say 'Google' as a verb all the time.

EDIT: My sister just asked me then :yell:

 

[rome2ng]

i don't know , but at long it concern, it could be good for all of us, as domainer, rather than Google Inc. so why care about them ? haha

 

[MadAboutDomains]

I think that this story is simply pathetic. It is because of them that the word has become famous. Because somewhere has chosen to put it in the dictionary, it would be stupid for them not to keep the protection of their trademark.

 

[JYM]

I agree with all of you, Google would never lose it's TradeMark since a TM is essential to it. Besides, there's no difference with google being in the dictionary, since few people search the dictionary for the term 'google' and most people use it anyway, whether its in the dictionary or not.

I'm sure there's a way of both worlds, and Google will get it.

 

[izmas]

This was all planned by google as a form of free publicity :blink:

 

[Noner]

Hmm.. What Google will be in future? They are going forward with high speed and taking new responsabilities and opening new doors. But nice, it really earned that.

 

[StoneRoses]

It is not uncommon for this to happen.

Most people in the Uk says Hoover not vacuum

Before ipods came it was Walkman not personal cd player

And also Tannoy not public address system.

I'm pretty sure they all still have their TM's,So maybe a clever ploy by Google to get some PR.I am sure they will manage to hang on to the TM :imho:

 

[Earthian]

a little more information on the procedure we are discussing about ...

Genericized trademark (wikipedia)




and a rather interesting ...

List of generic and genericized trademarks (wikipedia)










I don't think that Google risk losing their trademark because "google" was entered into a dictionary ... even there it is obvious that it is derived from Google ... and Google will not allow for its trademark to be genericized since it is vital for their current products and for the protection of the brand's reputation ...

 

[gdave]

Fonzie, a member of Namepros, bought the DN repel.com. This is clearly a word in the dictionary that was not made up by the company that sells Repel insect repellent.

Everyone in the thread was advising him that he could NOT use repel.com for an insect repellent website. I don't see the logic. If "Google" (a trademarked invented word) BECOMES a word then other people can use it in a domain name. The long-standing english word "repel" is trademarked after it has been a word--and people can't use "repel"?

Does anyone else see the inconsistency?

 

[Earthian]

gdave - repel is a dictionary word

Repel is trademarked for insect repellents and a number of other products (industries)

it is similar to Apple for computers ... apple is a dictionary word but trademarked by Apple for computers ...







the person that owns repel.com cannot sell insect repellents or the other various products for which the term is trademarked for (because it might cause customer confusion regarding the source/origin of the products) ...

but noone can take the domain away from him , if he doesn't sell any of those products , since it is generic (dictionary word) ...

theoretically he can keep the domain until he receives an offer (possibly from Repel) to sell it ... theoretically he could contact Repel himself but there is a big danger that his attempt to approach them might be considered as "bad faith" in an arbitration procedure ...








Google , on the other hand , is a trademarked made-up word ... the fact that google was entered into a dictionary does not cancel the trademark rights that Google has ... especially since Google will try to avoid for the term to become genericized ... only if it became genericized (like escalator) , other people would be allowed to use the term without trademark issues ...

 

[Ronald Regging]

"Whether or not a mark is popularly identified as genericized, the owner of the mark may still be able to enforce the proprietary rights which attach to the use or registration of the mark, so long as the mark continues to exclusively identify the owner as the commercial origin of the applicable products or services. If the mark does not perform this essential function and it is no longer possible to legally enforce rights in relation to the mark, the mark may have become generic."

According to Wikipedia, it's saying that as long as the company can preserve it's exclusive identity (as is the case with the dictionary entry, because it affirms their TM), then they have a right to keep it. One of the duties of a company with a TM is to enforce and protect their mark and make sure it doesn't become diluted. The only way that Google could lose their TM is if it becomes so widely used by the general population that no one who uses it acknowledges it's TM and Google as a company can not maintain the resources to enforce it's TM. Enforcing a TM is often times as simple as searching for violations and emailing the owner to inform them of the situation. Obviously it's not always that simple, but I think Google has more than enough resources.