Google thinks using its name as a verb is detrimental to the brand. They want "I googled you" to stop. A company rep says it's important to distinguish between using the word "Google" to describe a
Google Internet search and using the word "google" to generally describe searching the Internet. "It has some serious trademark issues," the rep added. Linguists who spoke with CNET say they
understand. "The prestige associated with a trademark is lost if people use it generically, so I do see Google's point," says Julie Coleman, a linguist from the University of Leicester in England.
"They also do lots more than just search, so maybe they're reluctant for their brand name to be restricted in this way." But sometimes, it's impossible to stop new words from entering everyday speech.
It's not like Google reps are going to sue people using their name on the streets, but maybe the company wants to force dictionaries to mention its origin as a trademarked brand name. Members of the
blogging community say Google's new usage stance is a sign that the large company is becoming more corporate and less cool. Tech blogger Steve Rubel called it "one of the worst PR moves in history."
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