Google Me; Google to launch 'Facebook killer'?

[Dtothex]

Rumour has it that Google might launch a social networking site called 'Google Me' .

Digg founder Kevin Rose tweeted:

Ok, umm, huge rumor: Google to launch facebook competitor very soon "Google Me", very credible source

Read more at:
Google Me: Google To Launch A 'Facebook Killer'?

What do you guys think?

Is this rumour enough to start investing in some 'googleme' based domains?

I might be jumping the gun but I've just registered about 15 related domains, so I hope there's some truth in it all.

 

[Ms Domainer]

*

Word of advice:

Don't cybersquat on any Google name. You're just begging for legal trouble.

Read the newb threads.

*

 

[Alex P]

Grace delete them while you still can XD

If its true google might want them

 

[Dtothex]

I realise theres risk but if Google do launch "Google Me' I'd imagine they would want the domains I bought to exist. The domains I bought are along the lines of the domains already out there for other social networking webistes, often promoting tools for users to better utilize the social network.

But I am a relative newb to domains so if they get taken away they get taken away and a lesson is learnt.

 

[maxeaus]

But I am a relative newb to domains so if they get taken away they get taken away and a lesson is learnt.

You will be getting a lesson alright, a lesson in financial pain.

 

[Dtothex]

Enlighten a foolish one such as I?

How much 'financial pain' should I start preparing for?

So presuming this rumour is correct am I right in thinking that NOONE except Google will own a domain or have the rights to own a domain with 'googleme' in it? Even if the domain is purely parked or offering a service or product that positively impacts the Social Networking site?

 

[maxeaus]

Correct.

 

[copper]

How much 'financial pain' should I start preparing for?

$100,000 per domain name, I think.

 

[Entrepreneur888]

mikerowesoft.com

Enlighten a foolish one such as I?

How much 'financial pain' should I start preparing for?

So presuming this rumour is correct am I right in thinking that NOONE except Google will own a domain or have the rights to own a domain with 'googleme' in it? Even if the domain is purely parked or offering a service or product that positively impacts the Social Networking site?

Your intentions were good, and its nice that you wanted to share something that was a possible trend for domainers, you have to keep in mind anything with a TM in it is a possible huge problem in the future. Not only can they take the name away from you but they can sue you as well.

Google and Microsoft (for example) are two companies that aggressively defend their trademarks and go after anyone that tries to register anything related to their products.

The case of mikerowesoft.com is a prime example. Best of luck in your future domain reg's

 

[DNNinja]

great news for .me owners and much more should it get bigger than FB but my question is, giving all the experts they have why copycat FB and not do something different?.

 

[Dtothex]

Well I guess I will just sit on the domains and see what happens.

I would imagine they would simply ask for the domains before suing someone for 100,000!

And if they were to ask I'd happily give it to them rather than bite the pillow and take 100,000 units of pain.

Just for the record the word "googleme" (all one word) is officially a new 'slang' word meaning 'disprove me'

For example one could use it in a sentence as follows:

Person A
The width around that pint glass is not greater than the height!

Person B
Want to bet? Googleme

The word Googleme is not a google registered TM.

I plead not guilty your honor.

But on a serious note apologies for wasting your time. Thought it might have been an opportunity. It would seem however that I might be severely wrong.

What would people suggest I do with said domains?

 

[Alex P]

Nothing might ever happen, chances are nothing will unless you become big and start earning, but there always them few times were its going to go wrong for someone and they have suffered for it, non of us want to take that chance and also I bet a lot of us wouldn't anyway because its unethical making money of someone else's work.

 

[Dtothex]

Nothing might ever happen, chances are nothing will unless you become big and start earning, but there always them few times were its going to go wrong for someone and they have suffered for it, non of us want to take that chance and also I bet a lot of us wouldn't anyway because its unethical making money of someone else's work.

Fare enough. Couple of things I don't think I quite understand though.

When you say 'become big and start earning' are you implying I set up actual sites using those domains and generate large amounts of revenue from the sites? Or do you mean selling the domains? I don't understand how I can become big and stat earning from merely registering these domains?

I realize these guys can get away with doing pretty much anything, but I don't understand how I could have much of a negative impact on google without actually having some kind of site linked to these domains that could be in anyway negative or harmful to them?

I also don't understand how I would be unethically making money from someone else's work?

For example if this social networking site launches and somebody decides to make a program or an app to utilizes the social networking site, would that person be making money off someone else work? Well in many ways yes, but it is their own hard work that creates the product their selling, it just happens to be a product that works with that social networking site.
That's how a lot of products or businesses make money. If I was to then sell this person a domain they use to sell their product, am I then unethically making money from someone else's work?

Aren't most domain sales based on someone buying a domain that they believe will be relevant or useful to an existing person/place/product they did not invent or create, and selling it to them?

 

[MattheP]

The word Googleme is not a google registered TM.

Lets make long story short - everything you reg that contains term "google" is lost money. How much are you goint to loose? Could be anything from registration fee to court expenses and fine. If you delete them now, your will lost only reg fee. And you will not gain cybersquatter reputation

 

[Archangel]

You will get sued for obviously cybersquatting. Grace delete and get your money back before Google makes an example outta you.

I know you're a noob so I won't scold you. But you are admitting in a public forum that you registered these 15 out of bad faith. Get rid of them and move on. Google will NOT pay you a penny for them. They'll just send you a C&D and ue you if you don't give them the domains.

Lesson learned? Yeah but it's a foolish lesson to learn since everyone here is telling you how to avoid the obvious.

I realise theres risk but if Google do launch "Google Me' I'd imagine they would want the domains I bought to exist. The domains I bought are along the lines of the domains already out there for other social networking webistes, often promoting tools for users to better utilize the social network.

But I am a relative newb to domains so if they get taken away they get taken away and a lesson is learnt.

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 PM ----------

As well:

The word Googleme is not a google registered TM.

I plead not guilty your honor.

It doesn't matter. It has 'Google' in it, which automatically makes it a TM-protected term.

Plead not guilty but found guilty. They could use this thread as proof of your intentions. You have 2 options: Grace delete and get your money back or wait til Google takes them and you'll get no money back. You have 0% of making a profitable sale from these, unless you sold them for $10 to another noob. So why bother losing all your money?

 

[Alex P]

I also don't understand how I would be unethically making money from someone else's work?

If I came into your house took a beer out of your fridge and sat down and watched your TV without your permission you would be pretty annoyed you paid for those beers and that TV with your hard earned work, why should I be allowed to take it.

If I came into your house took a beer out of your fridge and sat down and watched your TV with your permission then it would be ok.

Same with this, if I start using someone else trademark without there permission they will get pretty annoyed because they might potentially lose money from it same as your going to lose 1 or more beers and your electricity bill may go up slightly higher depending on how much TV I watched..

However if you gained permission for this then it isn't a problem.

Crude example but I think it works.

You have 3 choices:

1 - Grace delete the domains if possible, gaining back as much of the reg fee as possible, this would be the advice of most of the domainers here, sink your $150 into something else that will make you money and isn't Trademarked.

2 - Ask Google if you are allowed these domains and are allowed to develop them or re sell them.

3 - Keep the domains secretly hoping Google doesn't ask for them and try to sell them to some unfortunate person and then hope Google doesn't pick him up for doing the same thing you are, trade mark infringing.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Archangel]

Oh yeah, one more thing:

I realize these guys can get away with doing pretty much anything, but I don't understand how I could have much of a negative impact on google without actually having some kind of site linked to these domains that could be in anyway negative or harmful to them?

You wouldn't be really getting in the way of anything. The "negative impact" would be simply owning the domains since somewhere down the line, someone MIGHT use these to make a site with and Google is extremely protective of its TM, the same as Yahoo and Microsoft.

 

[Kate]

I would imagine they would simply ask for the domains before suing someone for 100,000!

Sometimes the large corporations, in particular those that are hit with cybersquatting activity, need to make an example.

 

[Dtothex]

Lets make long story short - everything you reg that contains term "google" is lost money. How much are you goint to loose? Could be anything from registration fee to court expenses and fine. If you delete them now, your will lost only reg fee. And you will not gain cybersquatter reputation

Was obviously joking with that whole 'googleme' un registered TM slang being an alibi, but now understand that because'google' is in it, it is infringing on the TM.

I see all your points guys and most certainly see a perspective I didn't see before so thank you all for your help. Noob I am indeed, and appreciate your support.

I registered them with 1&1 and don't see anyway of deleting them, let alone getting any 'reg fee's' back. Does anyone know if this is possible with 1&1 and how one goes about doing so?

One thing I may add though is that the domains I registered are very unlikely going to be wanted by google themselves. Only third parties who have created software or applications to use with said google social network.

I might try contacting them and asking them if they mind me owning a few specific ones, as I think they will need domains like this to exist and be up and running with the related app or whatnot in order to compete with the likes of other social networking sites. Anyone by any chance know what email address I'd attempt to contact google?

There are most certainly a few I need to just straight up delete no questions asked though. just need to work out how!

 

[scandiman]

I see all your points guys and most certainly see a perspective I didn't see before so thank you all for your help. Noob I am indeed, and appreciate your support.

Lesson #1 hopefully learned...don't squat on TMs

I registered them with 1&1...

Lesson #2: Don't use 1&1 for a domain registrar, they are a royal pain. Hosting sure... registrar, no. Enjoy the adventure of making sure the domains are not auto renewed and then trying to get a refund after they auto-renew even though you told them not to.