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November 01, 2006
Are you using "Google" correctly?
Google now apparently cares how you use the word "Google." From a recent post on their Official Google Blog:
Google is a trademark identifying Google Inc. and our search technology and services. While we're pleased that so many people think of us when they think of searching the web, let's face it, we do have a brand to protect, so we'd like to make clear that you should please only use "Google" when you're actually referring to Google Inc. and our services.
Gee willikers! You wouldn't want to take advantage of the single biggest product name recognition in history! Instead, make some rules and tell people to abide by them. Way to bring corporate-speak into your blog, Google, and to eliminate some of the street cred you had built up by having a nice blog in the first place. Besides which, you know, when people say they're going to "Google" something, they do literally mean they're going to go use Google. As J-Walk says, perhaps we should move our "googling" to Yahoo or MSN.
November 1, 2006 | Permalink
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Comments
One word for this: Corporate. You can't have a company go public (at $100 a share and be at $435 a share a few years later) and still maintain any sense of "authentic...voice and individuality."
Google is doing a classic CYA maneuver (cover your a#*) to protect themselves. Sad but true, once an organization gets to a certain size it starts to loose its spark (no matter how good the idea was that started it).
Posted by: Dynamic Librarian | November 5, 2006
Aww come on now. I don't think I'm being hostile. I just think it's a wee bit silly that Google feels it has to say such a thing, especially on a blog that maybe 1/2 of one percent of its users look at. Ask yourself this: how many times have you heard someone use the word "google" incorrectly? I can say zero, and I'm in a profession where I deal with librarians, library staff, and the public on a regular basis. When people say they're going to google, that's what they literally mean. Furthermore, if it is just to say they've tried to protect their legal hinies by posting on this one blog, fine. But it does corrupt the authentic sense of voice and individuality they've so far tried so hard to achieve on that blog.
Posted by: Sarah Houghton (LiB) | November 2, 2006
Why the hostile attitude? Google is simply trying to protect their trademark. If they do not do so, then "single biggest product name recognition in history" will mean nothing. It has happened before - Aspirin lost their trademark. This is a perfectly legitimate concern and request on Google's part.
Posted by: V Smoothe | November 2, 2006
It seems ridiculous, and they probably don't expect anyone to follow it, but it's something they've gotta do for trademark protection. If they DON'T appear to be taking active steps to prevent the appropriation of their name, then it's that much easier for someone else to slap it on their product and get away with it.
Just ask Xerox or Kleenex -- I'm sure they'll tell you the same. ;)
Posted by: Alan M. | November 2, 2006
I reckon they're trying some kind of "reverse psychology" on us - tell us not to do it, so we respond with defiance and use it more, which is what they REALLY want.
Posted by: CW | November 1, 2006
I will now use my position as a librarian to pedantically and patronizingly correct anyone who uses the word "Google" incorrectly. That will endear me to people.
Posted by: joshua m. neff | November 1, 2006
