Another lawsuit has been filed against Google due to the companies AdWords keyword advertising program. So next Tuesday Google will be heading over to a German courtroom where it will continue to defend its technology against Metaspinner Media GmbH.
Metaspinner claims that Google's AdWords keyword advertising program infringes on its "Preispiraten" trademark. According to PCWorld Metaspinner already "won a preliminary injunction against Google last November and is seeking a permanent injunction and damages." This isn't the first time Google has been taken to court for similar trademark infringements. Earlier this year American Blind & Wallpaper Factory accused Google that its search engine's keyword-based advertising violates its trademarks.
This probably isn't the last of these types of lawsuits, eEspecially since several companies use generic words in their names - e.g. General Motors. Because of this, Google could also be targeted for keyword-based advertising. For Google's ad program to be ever sucessful, they need to resolve these issues once and for all.
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Metaspinner claims that Google's AdWords keyword advertising program infringes on its "Preispiraten" trademark. According to PCWorld Metaspinner already "won a preliminary injunction against Google last November and is seeking a permanent injunction and damages." This isn't the first time Google has been taken to court for similar trademark infringements. Earlier this year American Blind & Wallpaper Factory accused Google that its search engine's keyword-based advertising violates its trademarks.
This probably isn't the last of these types of lawsuits, eEspecially since several companies use generic words in their names - e.g. General Motors. Because of this, Google could also be targeted for keyword-based advertising. For Google's ad program to be ever sucessful, they need to resolve these issues once and for all.
This leaves Nintendo, once again, with a lot of titles that are bound to gather critical acclaim - and almost certainly deservedly so - but with the exception of Metroid Prime 2 not that many that are likely to scythe through the competition during a hectic Christmas rush.
Any GBA owners bound to an elderly relative's couch this Christmas won't have too much to worry about, however, with a number of exciting titles due on the handheld - despite the impending launch of the Nintendo DS, which is due out in Europe in early 2005. In fact, it'll be interesting to see how GBA sales fare in the run-up to Christmas purely on that basis.
We'll be in the queue though, busily scrabbling to get hold of Mario Golf Advance Tour (Sept 17th), the eagerly awaited The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Nov 12th), Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nov 19th), and - for the sake of working out what it is more than anything - "Super Mario Ball" (Nov 26th). Square die-hards will be pleased to see Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls down for early December, too.
Key exclusives due out on Nintendo platforms in the run up to Christmas:
GameCube
Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Party Game$ - September 3rd
Animal Crossing - September 3rd
Pikmin 2 - October 8th
Donkey Konga - October 15th
Paper Mario 2: The Thousand Year Door - November 12th
Tales of Symphonia - November 19th
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - November 26th
Game Boy Advance
Mario Golf Advance Tour - September 17th
Pokemon Leaf Green/Fire Red - October 1st
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - November 12th
Mario vs. Donkey Kong - November 19th
Super Mario Ball - November 26th
Mario Party Advance - December 3rd
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls - December 10th

Last edited by 40132 on 18 Aug 2004 - 23:04
how is that possible? crazy business right here.
What AB&WF was upset about was ads for generic terms, such as "decorate today" & "american blind" fell under their trademark. I don't ever recall hearing a ruling the case, but it wasn't completely without merit.
AB&WF trademarked "american blind" in relation to window blinds... but who is to say that someone isn't just searching for the American Council for the Blind?
Touchy subject, and each cases seems to be ruled different;y. Like the above Geico example, you'll find no competetors ads... however, search Louis vuitton & you'll see endless ads for ripoffs.
Earlier this year American Blind & Wallpaper Factory accused Google that its search engine's keyword-based advertising violates its trademarks.
how is that possible? crazy business right here.
[/QUOTE]
Apologies, I can't seem to "reply" to posts, only make new ones. If I remember that case corrected, ABW is suing Google, basically because they are not top, and other companies are listed, when you search for American Blind and Wallpaper on Google.
These companes want to sue Google now they ARE big.
You wont get much from suing a private company.
Google has done so much for us, too!
Best search engine
Best eMail service
Best Picture Software now free
Best Blogging software
Best I.E. Toolbar
so much!
(Best is concidered in my POV, maybe not yours but you know..)
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