Don't Believe Me? Then google it.
"Appropriate: I ran a Google search to check out that guy from the party. Inappropriate: I googled that hottie."

If you look up Google in the dictionary, what do you find? Dictionary.com says the word can be used as a verb... hrm.. a verb? Yes.. I think thats safe.. I use it as a verb on a daily basis. I google random things all day long, and often tell others, "Just google it." Good publicity right?
Well Google doesn't like it too much. Apparently they sent legal letters to a bunch of different media organization and dictionary types asking them to cease using google as a verb. They say, "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."
They even went on to list a few appropriate and innappropriate usages. (See first line of post). Because google is obviously used most to search for "hotties."
Anyway, what I dont get is why they're so upset. Isn't that sort of like Coca-Cola getting pissed cuz people say "I want a coke," when they really want a dr. pepper or something? The more people say the word they more publicity the company gets and the more people are going to use their services.
Is it just that Google doesn't want to simply be remebered for their amazing search engine, when they offer a myriad of other services? But do they really think no one's going to care about their other services just because they use their name as a verb?? I mean.. google started as a search... Am I missing something?
In any case, I'm going to continue to google things (and hotties) until the trade mark police take me to the grave.
Link

If you look up Google in the dictionary, what do you find? Dictionary.com says the word can be used as a verb... hrm.. a verb? Yes.. I think thats safe.. I use it as a verb on a daily basis. I google random things all day long, and often tell others, "Just google it." Good publicity right?
Well Google doesn't like it too much. Apparently they sent legal letters to a bunch of different media organization and dictionary types asking them to cease using google as a verb. They say, "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."
They even went on to list a few appropriate and innappropriate usages. (See first line of post). Because google is obviously used most to search for "hotties."
Anyway, what I dont get is why they're so upset. Isn't that sort of like Coca-Cola getting pissed cuz people say "I want a coke," when they really want a dr. pepper or something? The more people say the word they more publicity the company gets and the more people are going to use their services.
Is it just that Google doesn't want to simply be remebered for their amazing search engine, when they offer a myriad of other services? But do they really think no one's going to care about their other services just because they use their name as a verb?? I mean.. google started as a search... Am I missing something?
In any case, I'm going to continue to google things (and hotties) until the trade mark police take me to the grave.
Link
Labels: Google

1 Comments:
At 10:47 PM, October 26, 2006,
Anonymous said…
They're upset because they're afraid of their name becoming genericized.
Post a Comment
<< Home