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Google Sends Legal Threats to Media Organizations

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you-wouldn't-like-google-when-it's-angry dept.

rm69990 writes "Google, becoming more and more concerned about the growing use of the word google as a verb, has fired off warning letters to numerous media organizations warning them against using its name as a verb. This follows google (with a lowercase g) being added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in June. According to a Google spokesperson: "We think it's important to make the distinction between using the word Google to describe using Google to search the internet, and using the word Google to describe searching the internet. It has some serious trademark issues.""

2 of 449 comments (clear)

  1. Evil by nighty5 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    See, Google is starting to become Evil.

    Everybody, use the word as you see fit.

    The english language is always evolving, the term to become a verb definately will weaken Google's legal stance.

  2. Re:Generic Brand Name Issue by Dog-Cow · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Or you might just be a clueless fuck that posts on slashdot. Trademarks can be lost if they are not defended from generic use. No one is disputing that Google holds the trademark for the word google when used to refer to Internet search engines. That's precisely the point: they hold the mark and they have to defend it. That's the law in the US for companies wishing to retain exclusive use to a trademark.