General Discussions

**Hoang** · 07-07-2006, 03:27 PM

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

Quote:

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."

**Hexation** · 07-07-2006, 03:37 PM

Ouch, not so good news for them.

**clenard** · 07-07-2006, 03:49 PM

That's messed up lol... so just because they got popular over the years, they lose their Trademark? What about Coke? It seems people say "coke" more than "cola" or "soda" ?

Interesting... I can't see it happening but it would be crazy to see it happen.

**imported_Jon** · 07-07-2006, 04:23 PM

People definitely use the term "Google it" instead of saying "search for it" because they associate Google with the best source of information, even if they use Yahoo! I've been saying this for a while though. Google may give you lots of traffic, but for conversions and making money, Yahoo and MSN get my vote. Google is only good if you want free information and a lot of it. But maybe that's just me then.

**Complete Hostin** · 07-07-2006, 06:17 PM

Yep they have already added it to dictionaries ect its only a matter of time before its in day to day speech not great for google but still isnt it just advertising for them?

**clenard** · 07-07-2006, 08:18 PM

I'm still confused I guess... it's like when the Lakers first won 2 championships in a row and Pat Riley trademarked "threepeat"... I thought once you Trademarked a name, it's yours? How does a Trademark protect a Business if it doesn't protect a SUCCESSFUL business?

**koolkid** · 07-07-2006, 11:03 PM

Wow, that would be very interesting

**Correctus** · 07-11-2006, 06:19 AM

That is just a wild possibility in my opinion, I think it wont ever be put into action.

**lyndoman** · 07-11-2006, 06:38 AM

I doubt it, rich powerful companies hardly ever lose their trademark. Just because I use the word hoover for a vacuum, or cellotape for sticky back plastic, doesn't mean they lose their tradmarks.

**obenix** · 07-11-2006, 06:54 AM

Xerox has not lost their trademark yet, so I won't worry about it... for the time being..

**Jak** · 07-11-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obenix

Xerox has not lost their trademark yet, so I won't worry about it... for the time being..

Xerox, Kleenex, Band-Aid... they all still have theirs. In theory the rule is that they would lose them but in practice it very rarely happens.

**studio** · 07-11-2006, 05:28 PM

i dont think google will loose the trademark. Google is a big company and this days i`ve read that google is now a daily word.

**Lpspider** · 07-11-2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jak

Xerox, Kleenex, Band-Aid... they all still have theirs. In theory the rule is that they would lose them but in practice it very rarely happens.

Exactly what I was going to bring up.

While "google" may be a synonym for "Search" there's plenty of others out there such as "band-aid" for "bandage", etc.

**downfall** · 07-23-2006, 09:54 AM

does this mean, because it is listed in dictionary's from now on, that we can register names with google in it??

**carlos12** · 07-23-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studio

i dont think google will loose the trademark. Google is a big company and this days i`ve read that google is now a daily word.

i agree they prob going to mange it so no way they will loose the trademark becuase google had alots of more problems and they awlays get off it

**imported_jacksmith** · 07-23-2006, 11:36 AM

this is some interesting news, so if someone wants to prevent then they should not become famous

**paowiee** · 07-23-2006, 11:49 AM

never knew they had to worry about that

)

**cheapquality** · 07-23-2006, 12:07 PM

this is just news , but this dream can't become true, google is the company who capture whole internet, they will not allow anyone, they play with this name, they did very hard work to become popular

**007** · 07-24-2006, 02:31 AM

Kind of like how some people refer to all forms of soda/pop as "Coke."

The Coke trademark has been abused beyond abuse. Almost every carbonated drink nowadays can be referred to as "a Coke" and nobody misses a beat. Seems like that hasn't exactly helped Coke, especially in cases such as:

Person A: Hey do you want a Coke?
Person B: Sure
Person A: What kind?
Person B: Mountain Dew

:detective:

TH · 07-24-2006, 02:46 AM

Think what you want but google inc. won't let this happen...
and i'm sure this will never happen