Top
WebsiteGoogle
Google is a very good search engine that many people can't seem to live without.
Website
Don't use google as a verb!
The Google folks seem to have their
panties in a knot? over people using their name as a verb.
Paul McFedries? edits the
Word Spy?, a website that deals with "
recently coined words? and phrases, old words? that are being used in new ways, and existing words that have enjoyed a recent renaissance."
1. Mr.
MecFedries? recently received a
Cease and Desist? letter from
Google Inc? that asked him to remove the
trademarked word? from being listed in his lexicon as a verb.
As many of you may know,
Google Inc? is in a very tricky legal place if its name becomes a generic term. The word "Refridgerator" used to be a trademark but
lost that status due to
trademark dillution?, so companies now strive to ensure that their names will not become generic. Although they are still currently protected, "Kleenex" and "Xerox" could be eliminated as trademarks because their names have become synonyms for
generic products?.
Anyhow, it's an interesting situation. We'll see what happens.
Refs
RobinsonTryon - 03 Nov 2002