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Did Google fire their PR dept or did they just become another company that we love to hate? The past two weeks has been a huge PR disaster for Google. As for t
by nivla 14y ago
Did Google fire their PR dept or did they just become another company that we love to hate? The past two weeks has been a huge PR disaster for Google.
As for the issue in the article, I have mixed reactions. They din't have a problem when Oxford dictionary made "google" a verb[1]. However, letting your trademark slip is also not the best idea either - Spam [2].
[1] http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2058373/Google-Now-A-Verb-In-The-Oxford-English-Dictionary http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2058373/Google-Now-A-Ve...
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)#Trademark_issues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)#Trademark_iss...
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- pjmlp 14y agoThey just got big enough to stop caring about what geeks think.
- icebraining 14y agoThe difference is that the Oxford definition specifically refers to Google's search engine, not a generic "web search", while the definition in TA was generic. Frankly, considering trademark law, I don't think Google's to blame. And it's not like people can't use the word anyway, there's just less official evidence of erosion.
- marvin 14y agoForget about trademark violations. Sweden is a sovereign state. I think something's very weird when a company can dictate which words people are allowed to use. Of course, at least in Norway this word is in active use already. It's just not in the dictionary yet (and it's rarely used). But as someone else said, now people will use it just out of spite.
- yanw 14y agoIt's not about what you can say - you can say whatever you like - but Sweden or whomever can't officially bestow a new meaning on a trademarked name. It's like enshrining in the dictionary that Coca-Cola means "sugary water".
- throwaway125 14y agoIf the people use a word that happens to be trademarked in a way unrelated or semi related to the trademark then yes, they can and will do that.
- marvin 14y agoNo one has bestowed a new meaning to anything. "Ogoogelbar" means "ungooglable", translating directly (something which cannot be searched using Google). Besides, language is organic. You can't exclude a commonly used word from the dictionary just because it violates someone's opinion on how you're allowed to express yourself in writing. Regardless, which supernational authority is going to enforce a claim like this? I think it is you who need to cite which part of international law regulates the organic development and official acceptance of new words.
- DanBC 14y agoHow do you know that Google didn't have a problem when Oxford dictionary made Google a verb? Also, Oxford tends to capitalise and / or mark as trademarks words such as this.