4 ms·
> User-generated content on Google Maps is pretty solid after all these years. In Germany, there are lots of scammers registering domains for businesses that h
by cookiengineer 5y ago
> User-generated content on Google Maps is pretty solid after all these years.
In Germany, there are lots of scammers registering domains for businesses that have no Google Page, and owners of restaurants are literally extorted with those practices.
For example, lieferando/takeaway claims business pages with custom domains in an automated process to force restaurants into using their platform, they literally own thousands of domains like "restaurant-name-in-city.de". Additionally the phone number is routed through their VoIP gateway, and it's published everywhere like this. So if people try to call the restaurant, they call through their hotline, which gives them even more power to put pressure on restaurant owners to pay premium.
I'm sorry, but this yelp style mafia shit that this solution allowed is not what I can support in good faith.
- im3w1l 5y agoSounds like textbook trademark infringement.
- qayxc 5y agoHow so? Trademarks have to be registered in order to be protected and even then you have to actively pursue potential violations (i.e. "defend it"), lest you lose it anyway. You really think that your average family restaurant or mom-and-pop store that does offers delivery on the side can afford that? Besides, in my region there's at least 4 restaurants and hotels named "Black Eagle" in a 10 km radius. You could never protect that name for various reasons.
- im3w1l 5y agoBecause they show not just disregard for customer confusion, they are deliberately using the brand to cause customer confusion and benefit from the good reputation.
- qayxc 5y agoBut location names are distinctively not brand names. I know that concept might be confusing depending on your cultural background, but in most parts of Europe restaurants aren't chains and their names aren't brands. Each restaurant is usually a family business and it's perfectly normal to find the same pub or restaurant name in nearby towns.