Comments on: Google to Media: We Are Not a Verb http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:53:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Ekko Dieleman http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57625 Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:02:38 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57625 Over here in The Netherlands most people use the Dutch equivalent of to google when they refer to performing an Internet search. And this verb is included in the leading dictionary as well so it's unstoppable in Dutch too. Over here in The Netherlands most people use the Dutch equivalent of to google when they refer to performing an Internet search. And this verb is included in the leading dictionary as well so it’s unstoppable in Dutch too.

]]> by: Dave Barnes http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57353 Wed, 16 Aug 2006 02:37:11 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57353 John [post #3], You are INcorrect. "Q-Tip and Thermos are names that became a genericized trademark" is not true. Neither was mentioned on the Wikipedia page you referenced. I went to the US Patent & Trademark Office website (www.uspto.gov) and found: THERMOS; Goods and Services: Refrigerators; Serial Number: 78895618. I also found: Q-TIPS; Goods and Services: cotton swabs; Registration Number: 2809256; Owner: Chesebrough-Pond's. ,dave John [post #3],

You are INcorrect. “Q-Tip and Thermos are names that became a genericized trademark” is not true. Neither was mentioned on the Wikipedia page you referenced.

I went to the US Patent & Trademark Office website (www.uspto.gov) and found: THERMOS; Goods and Services: Refrigerators; Serial Number: 78895618.

I also found: Q-TIPS;
Goods and Services: cotton swabs; Registration Number: 2809256; Owner: Chesebrough-Pond’s.

,dave

]]> by: Bill King http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57043 Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:14:06 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57043 I agree with John above. Unless google can prove they are actively trying to protect their trademark, then they lose all rights to it. I'm sure they're chuffed as hell it's become general parlance, but legally, they have to do this. I agree with John above. Unless google can prove they are actively trying to protect their trademark, then they lose all rights to it. I’m sure they’re chuffed as hell it’s become general parlance, but legally, they have to do this.

]]> by: David Johnston http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57023 Mon, 14 Aug 2006 21:19:13 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-57023 Google is definitely fighting a losing battle. Google is now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a verb, as pointed out in your article, and it's there for a reason. The phrase "to google" is already in common use. I cannot count the number of times I've heard or read "google _______" or "google it". If I were them, I'd be looking into a way to spin this positively rather than fight an obviously impossible-to-win battle. Google is definitely fighting a losing battle. Google is now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a verb, as pointed out in your article, and it’s there for a reason. The phrase “to google” is already in common use. I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard or read “google _______” or “google it”. If I were them, I’d be looking into a way to spin this positively rather than fight an obviously impossible-to-win battle.

]]> by: John http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-56994 Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:21:09 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-56994 The are worried about loosing the trademark rights. Q-Tip and Thermos are names that became a genericized trademark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genericized_trademark The companies that origionaly trademarked the term lost control and lost the trademark. Google is just trying to make sure they can keep control, otherwise you would be using "Yahoo! Google" or "MSN instantGoogle" in the near future... The are worried about loosing the trademark rights. Q-Tip and Thermos are names that became a genericized trademark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genericized_trademark

The companies that origionaly trademarked the term lost control and lost the trademark. Google is just trying to make sure they can keep control, otherwise you would be using “Yahoo! Google” or “MSN instantGoogle” in the near future…

]]> by: Another Mike http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-56993 Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:12:19 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-56993 I agree that they are going things about the wrong way not wanting "google" to be used as a verb. Honestly I use it myself and it just seemed like the right word to use. But on the other side of the coin, I DO understand why they don't like it. Google is desperately trying to branch out to do other things. Making good software is always an excellent thing but unless they can sell it(and I use the word sell as meaning mindshare) to the mass market, it's not gonna go anywhere. Currently if you talk to a random person on the street about google they'll go, "oh yeah that internet search company," not realizing they do so much more. I agree that they are going things about the wrong way not wanting “google” to be used as a verb. Honestly I use it myself and it just seemed like the right word to use.

But on the other side of the coin, I DO understand why they don’t like it. Google is desperately trying to branch out to do other things. Making good software is always an excellent thing but unless they can sell it(and I use the word sell as meaning mindshare) to the mass market, it’s not gonna go anywhere. Currently if you talk to a random person on the street about google they’ll go, “oh yeah that internet search company,” not realizing they do so much more.

]]> by: Bill M http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-56991 Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:52:20 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3375#comment-56991 Only an idiot would take offense at having their brand name used to define a market. Even more so when the market is a service and not a tangible good -- the Kleenex brand may be on a shelf next to other tissues, but if I am going to google something, I won't look for another search engine. Only an idiot would take offense at having their brand name used to define a market. Even more so when the market is a service and not a tangible good — the Kleenex brand may be on a shelf next to other tissues, but if I am going to google something, I won’t look for another search engine.

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