Google shoves cybersquatter off 763 Googletastic domains

Google has seized over 750 domain names from a cybersquatter who used them to drive traffic to a series of "gay interest" websites and now wants Google's trademark cancelled. The company has won a complaint covering 763 domains that all included the word "google" followed by the name of another company, keyword or celebrity, …

[Cliff]

Google generic term...

Oooohhh that is an intersting one. Spam no longer specifically refers to Hormel's pink stuff, hoover is used interchangeably with vacuum cleaner, etc.

Yes, clearly looks like the guy was squatting in poor faith, but it'll be inetresting who can be the first person to make it stick that 'to google' is a generic term :-|

[Amos]

Re: Google generic term...

Despite common mis-perception "Spam" and "spam" is not a Hormel trademark.

"SPAM" all upper case is the trademark.

Unlike some other big corporates Hormel are kind enough to understand their own chosen trademark and extend leeway to persons in the anti-spam area who are careful to use the non-trademark variants correctly and without profiting from the term.

They *do* actively enforce the trademark however. Try to label everything in CAPS and you are violating their trademark. Do so while operating a money-making operation and can expect to receive a legal complaint.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Google generic term...

Google is not a generci term, but Go Ogle is.

e.g

"Why don't you go ogle someone else, you twat"

So why can't someone have a domain called "googlesomeoneelse.com"

[Velv]

Looks like google are going to hoover up the domains. Oops, can't use Hoover

[Robert E A Harvey]

can't say 'hoover'

No, but in this context I don't think they'd want to 'suck' them up either.

[Gannon (J.) Dick]

Re: can't say 'hoover'

OTOH, he wasn't sucking up to Google either.

Damn, the Internet. I used to speak English ... well, American, which is allege-goole understood in The Channel Islands and parts of Scotland.

[JDX]

That $7000

If you buy domains and someone gets them taken off you, do you get your money back?

[Notas Badoff]

Long wrong and short wrong

Typing "6400 pounds in dollars" into Google search bar gets you a better answer - "6400 British pounds sterling = 10313.6000 US dollars"

As for your question... No.

[Phil O'Sophical]

Re: That $7000

Probably not, but even if you did they'd likely follow airline tactics, and charge you a $20 "administration fee" for each $10 refund...

[Anonymous Coward]

Parasite

Parasite...Nuff said.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Parasite

It's crazy isn't it? The amount of cash people keep "bidding" them just to turn on a few bits on webpages. Useless cretins. Thank god for adblock.

[dssf]

He should have rented film crews and cameras and claimed he was making a short film called...

"PornSpotting", hahahaha

[LinkOfHyrule]

googletranny.com

Damn, and there was me thinking this was a website for Google's new range of transistor radios!

[Matthew 25]

Re: googletranny.com

Yes! A transistor radio with a built in smartphone!

[Senior Ugli]

The webiste they directed too said 'Coming soon'? thats disgusting

Also why would you buy all them domains from Godaddy? thats disgusting too

[Anonymous Coward]

Go Ogle

"Go Ogle" is a generic term (go and stare at). So, for example Go Ogle Donkey Sex is generic and should be OK. The domain name does not have to have '.' between words so therefore googledonkeysex.com should be allowed - and does not infringe Google. Google should have thought more about the word 'google' and that it is a concatenation of 2 valid english words in a valid usage.

[Eduard Coli]

Benign Internet overlords

Oh, where would we be without our appoint Internet overlords at ICANN('t)?

They sure deserve that kickback, err bonus money, for their service to the rich and powerful.

selah