BusinessWeek Covers RESCUECOM Appeal Victory over Google

Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of RESCUECOM

BusinessWeek
By Michael Orey
Internet April 15, 2009:


Google's Trademark Tussle

Google suffered a setback in a legal battle over how it auctions search terms. How would eventual defeat affect the Web search market?

It's vexing for a company to see its brand name disparaged. It can be downright infuriating when that brand is used to drum up business for a rival.

So some companies are up in arms over a practice by Google that lets advertisers use a competing brand name in efforts to attract customers. Google's opponents won a legal victory recently that could presage limits on how Internet companies use brand names to sell search-related ads.

On Apr. 3, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated a suit filed by computer repair firm Rescuecom, which alleges that Google's practice of letting competitors bid for each others' names as search keywords infringes its trademark. Consumers who searched the term "Rescuecom" have been shown ads of rival computer repair companies.

The setback for Google (GOOG) highlights simmering questions about the rules of the road for advertisements linked to Internet search. At issue is the practice of letting marketers bid on and purchase the right to use trademarked names?even when those brands belong to a competitor?as part of online ad campaigns. Yahoo! (YHOO) is embroiled in similar litigation.

Google Reviews

D.M. Lafortune
D.M. Lafortune
3 months ago
These folks are the best ! They have Rescued me more than once :o)
...These folks are the best ! They have Rescued me more than once :o) less
Steve Donnellon
Steve Donnellon
5 months ago
Working with Roy remotely from Junea, Alaska has been a excellent experience and and he solved my so
...Working with Roy remotely from Junea, Alaska has been a excellent experience and and he solved my software issue and had hellp with preventing future issues. less
Jay Amburgey
Jay Amburgey
7 months ago
I was having trouble with my gmail email and I contacted Rescuecom and a technician named Roy helped
...I was having trouble with my gmail email and I contacted Rescuecom and a technician named Roy helped me restore email and folders that I thought were deleted or lost. I highly recommend these guys for your technology needs and they also help with cellphones, routers and tv's. Way to go Rescuecom. less
Jean Ende
Jean Ende
8 months ago
I was in a panic because I'd been hacked--they saved the day and took care of all my problems right
...I was in a panic because I'd been hacked--they saved the day and took care of all my problems right away. less
View all Google reviews

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