Google What???

[Brandon]

People dont "Google" this story

Google has said it intends to crack down on the use of its name as a generic verb, in phrases such as "to google someone."

The Internet search giant said such phrases were potentially damaging to its brand.

"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 generally describe searching the Internet. It has some serious trademark issues," a representative for the search company said.

Julie Coleman, an authority on linguistics from the University of Leicester, said she could understand Google's concerns.

"The prestige associated with a trademark is lost if people use it generically, so I do see Google's point. They also do lots more than just search, so maybe they're reluctant for their brand name to be restricted in this way," Coleman said.

But Coleman added that once new words enter into common usage, it is impossible to stop their use.

"Google can't possibly stop the spread of the verb," Coleman said. "Normal people are using it in normal conversation and in writing, and they aren't likely to face legal proceedings."

What Google could do, said Coleman, is "force dictionaries to mention its origin in a trademarked brand name, which is what the Oxford English Dictionary already does."

Even if Google's attempts to stop this misuse of its trademark turn out to be in vain, many argue it shouldn't even be trying.

Members of the blogging community have suggested it is a sign that Google is losing its once-cool facade and that the search giant is taking itself too seriously.

One blogger also suggested Google has missed the obvious compliment in all this, which is that the use is evidence the company now owns the search industry.

"This should be the ultimate compliment, and I cannot believe Google sees it differently," blogger and computing graduate Frank Gruber wrote.

Steve Rubel, another blogger, branded it "one of the worst PR moves in history".

Morgan McLintic, a PR executive based in the heart of Silicon Valley, said Google should certainly learn when to love its addition to the English language.

"'Googling' is already common parlance for searching on the Internet," McLintic wrote. "And there is only one place you go to 'google,' so this is a good thing for Google with a capital 'G'. The media's use of the verb is simply a reflection of everyday use."

Google's move reflects the concerns of other businesses, such as Xerox, which has complained that its brand has become a generic term for photocopying respectively. Apple Computer is also taking action to defend "iPod."

AOL is another technology company that has fought the tendency of brands to become generic. It has contacting media outlets in the past over the use of "instant messenger" to describe any IM application, claiming that to be its brand.

Source: ZDNet

at the end..lmfao

[noerrorsfound]

I'm just wondering what to call instant messengers now.

[jvp856]

...
One blogger also suggested Google has missed the obvious compliment in all this, which is that the use is evidence the company now owns the search industry.
...

This is not good, Google stores everyting you search and what you click on their page, Gmail,... and they are making even more services, today in China Google gives info to the government about who searches what, in America the government has tryed to put their hands on Google's databases, but failed, even if Google wants to keep their information about you secret, they may be unable to do so.:happysad:

[Cubeform]

This is not good, Google stores everyting you search and what you click on their page, Gmail,... and they are making even more services, today in China Google gives info to the government about who searches what, in America the government has tryed to put their hands on Google's databases, but failed, even if Google wants to keep their information about you secret, they may be unable to do so.:happysad:

Also, on Google.cn, you can't turn SafeSearch off... Hmm...
They also censor image results for searches like "tiananmen", etc.

They should do this now. Remember what happened to Kleenex? Band-aids? They now usually refer to facial tissues and bandages, respectively, instead of the brands themselves.

[Tabitha]

i think they should get over it. google is a popular site. they should take it as a compliment. they also have no right to ristict how and when i use any word i would like to use.

[Theotherside]

I don't think it's to big of an issue, it's not like no one is going to remember what google is, but only a vauge conotation to searching the internet. If anything it'll just make it more well known and used, at least in my humble opinion. Hey, if people all refered to my site's name as a term for cinema's, I'd be ecstatic!
-The Other Side

[jovens.adventistas]

Google is dominating the world! kkkk it was only successful and today it occupies the top! beyond all its services have a very good email the Gmail, Google are excessively, with this account of email can transfomr in one drive-online for my archives alone lowering a program that the staff of google made… naum today says more: I go to check my emais. but yes: I go to explore my Gmail! Excellent Google in what it makes and it makes well done!

[jvp856]

Google is dominating the world! kkkk it was only successful and today it occupies the top! beyond all its services have a very good email the Gmail, Google are excessively, with this account of email can transfomr in one drive-online for my archives alone lowering a program that the staff of google made… naum today says more: I go to check my emais. but yes: I go to explore my Gmail! Excellent Google in what it makes and it makes well done!

Google has done something great by introducing Gmail to the world and all their great programs or projects, but I don't like the fact that they store so much information about you, basicly to help you getting better searches, but as I said, they may be unable to keep their information secret.

[gavo2o]

sounds a lot like what xerox wants to do with their name because if a companie's trade mark becomes a commonly used word they may loose their trade mark

[Theotherside]

I think it's innevitable that this is, and has happened. I didn't even think of gmail, which I use by the way. But still, I don't see the urgent problem that they are worrying about. In my mum's family, everyone says "coke" whenever they speak of a soft drink, but everytime they say it, I think of of coca-cola (not sprite, mountain dew, or whatever they are truly referering to), therefore putting that company's project in my mind, an advertisement. I would not have thought of coca-cola if they had said mountain due (unless you get into schema, and the realm of the subconscience, and that nice interesting world ). So why are they freaking out over their company becoming more than a house name? It seems stupid to me, they are a gigantic company, getting a gigantic, free, advertisement, and they are worried... I just don't get it!
-The Other Side