Marketing Pilgrim - Latest Comments in Apple Using Google as a Verb

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Allen Taylor — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:20:13 -0000

It actually benefits Google to use their name as a verb simply because of it's market dominance. It wouldn't benefit Marketing Pilgrim to use Pilgrim as a verb nor would it benefit Yahoo! or MSN Live. If the verb form doesn't easily roll off the tongue then you'll just look stupid trying it. Allowing people to use "Google" as a verb creates top-of-mind awareness for their product. How can they lose?

The only way Google could lose on this is if the verb form of the name remains in the conscience of searchers even after Google loses market dominance (should that ever happen) AND if it is used to describe searches at any search platform.

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Paul Brain — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:38:04 -0000

Newest English language :)

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

GoWFB — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:28:52 -0000

This is proof that the word google is just so firmly entrenchedi in everyone's lexicon!

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Eduardo Fenili — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:17:53 -0000

I have spoken with a few people on the Trademark team at Google and the talk is the same as stated above. So long as people use it as a Verb only to mean using the Google search engine then all is gravy.

Now if Google started to get used in terms of just searching the internet in general that is a bad thing...truth is that probably won't ever happen. And Google is used so much more frequently than any other search when anyone says Google it you are probably 99.9% sure they mean go to Google.com

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Mike Mothner — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:37:21 -0000

I was surprised to think of google becoming a very as a detriment to the company. If anything, I would think that the "verbization" of Google is not harmful to Google, but in fact goes to show how much people depend on the search engine. Everyone understands its meaning as having performed an online search. Clearly it shows Google's dominance online because if I ever heard someone say I'm going to go yahoo that I would think they're crazy.

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

David Vogelpohl — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:26:02 -0000

I hate to rain on my own parade, but after a conversation with a friend at lunch it appears Google has commented on this indirectly.

In the post below (pointed my way by Seth Wilde) Google discusses how the use of the verb "google" is okay when referring to a search on the Google search engine.

Clearly this is the case in the iPhone example.

http://googleblog.blogspot....

I guess this is one observation which required a bit more digging :)

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Internet Marketing Joy — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:10:15 -0000

I'm also guilty of using Google as a verb for search. ^^..

I would always say "I will google it..etc."

For me, using google instead of search makes it more generic and easy to understand.

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

What's the frequency, Kenneth? — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:00:02 -0000

You reminded me why I hate lawyers. If a strategic partner names one of their widgets on your trademark and it in fact leverages the product with the trademark, you are clearly winning. That partner is embedding your trademark in their product, making it more difficult to remove it later as a design decision. This strengthens the partnership and the association of your product with the utility of the widget. It's all good. If the partner suddenly renames the widget or allows the widget to do something else, then you better get on the stick, because the partnership is in trouble.

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Nick Wilsdon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:39:24 -0000

I guess the test is whether the iPhone lets you 'Google' using any other provider? If not then Google are probably OK with this usage.

From their blog:

http://googleblog.blogspot....

Usage: 'Google' as verb referring to searching for information on, um, Google.

Example: "I googled him on the well-known website Google.com and he seems pretty interesting."

Our lawyers say: Well, we're happy at least that it's clear you mean searching on Google.com. As our friends at Merriam-Webster note, to "Google" means "to use the Google search engine to find information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web."

I see what you are saying though, it does encourage usage as a verb.

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Brian — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:47:32 -0000

Todays Goal: Use 'Pilgrim' as a verb. (To the disdain of English teachers everywhere)

"...I bet their pages views went up today since they were pilgrimmed..."

Re: Apple Using Google as a Verb

Andy Beal — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:16:36 -0000

Considering Eric Schmidt is on Apple's board, I'm sure there won't be any repercussions. ;-)