Google forbids "google"
The search giant Google is unhappy with the manner of using the verb-neologism “google” (to google) in the meaning of “search on the Internet”. According to its representatives, it causes damage to the brand, reports Silicon.com
It is unlikely that the company's attempts will be crowned with success, experts say. However, Google is still trying to protect its name.
“We think it is important to see the differences using the word“ google ”: it’s one thing to use it to describe Google search, and another to describe it on the Internet in general. We see this as a serious problem for the brand, ”they say in the company.
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Julia Coleman, Ph.D. in linguistics at the University of Leicester, says she can understand Google: “The prestige of the trademark will be lost if people make the word brand a common concept. Search is far from being the only Google product; it’s understandable why they are against such a restriction of semantics. ”
At the same time, Coleman added that it is impossible to stop the use of a word that has already come into use. “Google will not stop the distribution of a derived verb,” she said. “After all, people usually use it in everyday communication — it’s impossible to put them on trial for this.” All the company can do is prohibit the use of “to google” in dictionaries. By the way, the verb is already present in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Many were quite skeptical about the Google initiative. Some bloggers believe that the company has become too serious about itself, and in fact it’s very cool that there is such a word - this indicates a general recognition of its authority.
Others were more categorical in statements. So, blogger Steve Rabel called this move "one of the worst PR moves in history."
If this is a PR move, it is not the only one of its kind. AOL, for example, also fought for the phrase “instant messenger”.
It is unlikely that the company's attempts will be crowned with success, experts say. However, Google is still trying to protect its name.
“We think it is important to see the differences using the word“ google ”: it’s one thing to use it to describe Google search, and another to describe it on the Internet in general. We see this as a serious problem for the brand, ”they say in the company.
')
Julia Coleman, Ph.D. in linguistics at the University of Leicester, says she can understand Google: “The prestige of the trademark will be lost if people make the word brand a common concept. Search is far from being the only Google product; it’s understandable why they are against such a restriction of semantics. ”
At the same time, Coleman added that it is impossible to stop the use of a word that has already come into use. “Google will not stop the distribution of a derived verb,” she said. “After all, people usually use it in everyday communication — it’s impossible to put them on trial for this.” All the company can do is prohibit the use of “to google” in dictionaries. By the way, the verb is already present in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Many were quite skeptical about the Google initiative. Some bloggers believe that the company has become too serious about itself, and in fact it’s very cool that there is such a word - this indicates a general recognition of its authority.
Others were more categorical in statements. So, blogger Steve Rabel called this move "one of the worst PR moves in history."
If this is a PR move, it is not the only one of its kind. AOL, for example, also fought for the phrase “instant messenger”.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/4287/
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