From the Google Trademark Team
Subject: [8-6875000001837] Google Inc. - ENF - Dr. Google 8-6875000001837 1370268665
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 20:23:29 +0000
From: tm-enf@google.com
To: info@fffff.at
CC: tm-enf@google.com
Dear Registrant, Google is the owner of the well-known trademark and trade name GOOGLE, as well as the domain name GOOGLE.COM. As you are no doubt aware, GOOGLE is the trademark used to identify our award-winning search engine, located at www.google.com. Since its inception in 1997, the GOOGLE search engine has become one of the most highly recognized and widely used Internet search engines in the world. Google owns numerous trademark registrations and applications for its GOOGLE mark in countries around the world. Google has used and actively promoted its GOOGLE mark for a number of years, and has invested considerable time and money establishing exclusive proprietary rights in the GOOGLE mark for a wide range of goods and services. As a result of its efforts, the GOOGLE mark has become a famous mark and a property right of incalculable value. We allow use of our logo only if we have granted express written permission; please see our Brand Permission guidelines at www.google.com/permissions/guidelines.html. We recently learned that you are using our famous GOOGLE Logo on your website at http://fffff.at/dr-google/. Because your website displays our trademark, it falsely suggests to Internet users that Google has approved or authorized your website and your activities. From a legal standpoint, your use of the GOOGLE Logo without our permission constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition. Your use of our GOOGLE Logo is likely to mislead consumers into believing that some association exists between Google and you, which tarnishes the goodwill and reputation of Google's services and trademarks. We are also concerned that the trade dress (i.e., the overall look and feel) of your website bears a striking resemblance to Google's website at google.com. Specifically, the colors, fonts and layout are very similar to Google’s. Finally, we note that your site is named “Dr. Google” and queries conducted on your site provide medical-related information. We are very concerned that Internet users may be confused and believe that Google has verified and is providing the medical information found on your site. As a trademark owner, Google takes action to stop use of its trademark that could lead to consumer confusion. We would like to resolve this in a cooperative manner, rather than pursue legal action. We hope that your actions have resulted from your misunderstanding of trademark law, rather than a deliberate attempt to trade on the goodwill of the Google trademark and confuse customers regarding Google’s endorsement of your website. However, in order to prevent user confusion, we must request that you take the following actions within 14 days and send us an email confirming that you will cooperate: 1. Remove the GOOGLE Logo from your website within 14 days; and 2. Agree not to use the GOOGLE Logo on your website in the future without Google’s permission. 3. Change the look and feel and title of your site so that it no longer resembles that of our website at google.com. We look forward to your cooperation in bringing this matter to a close. If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you, The Google Trademark Team
Evidence
©F*** Google
An art piece by Greg Leuch
Created and shown at Futurity Now!, transmediale.10, Feb 2010, Berlin, Germany