American Blinds Realizes That It Was About To Lose Google Keyword Ad Suit

from the er,-can-we-go-home-now? dept

Just a week or so after American Airlines was the latest in a long list of companies to incorrectly sue Google claiming that Google violated its trademarks in allowing others to buy keyword ads on the trademark "american airlines," one of the more well known cases in this realm has come to a close. American Blinds was one of the more prominent companies who had fighting Google. Again, the complaint was both wrong and misdirected. It's only trademark infringement if the ad would confuse people into believing the ad was from American Blinds when it's not... and even in that case, the fault lies with the advertiser, rather than Google. After years of fighting, it appears that the folks at American Blinds finally realized its chances of winning were close to nil, and have agreed to settle the case, with Google paying absolutely nothing. In other words, American Blinds spent a ton of money in legal costs and ended up with nothing. As Eric Goldberg points out in the link above, some people would have liked a judges ruling that could be used as precedent out of this case -- but even this settlement should hopefully alert other companies not to follow American Airlines down this questionable legal strategy.
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Filed Under: keyword ads, trademark
Companies: american blinds, google


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  • identicon
    SailorRipley, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:04am

    Idiots

    Of course other companies will continue to go down the same road, as they will think (or their lawyers will have them think) that they will be different, that they somehow will be an exception to the rule

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      John Duncan Yoyo, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:55am

      Re: Idiots

      One would think if Lawyers continue to advise clients to enter this type of suit would be guilty of legal malpractice. Of course finding a lawyer to sue another lawyer is a difficult thing.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Eric the Grey, 4 Sep 2007 @ 12:00pm

        Re: Re: Idiots

        I've always wondered why the American Bar Association doesn't deal with lawyers who push for this kind of lawsuit.

        It seems like they should be held accountable for taking their clients money for a legal suit they should know they can't win.

        And if they don't know it, they shouldn't be representing them anyway.


        EtG

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ajax 4Hire, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:05am

    Perfect example of large corporation

    that does not embrace the future.

    New is unsafe and unknown, it scares leaders because it could lead to change. If you are on top, then change of the status quo is bad, so new is bad, unsafe is bad, unknown is bad because all lead to change and change is bad.

    Google has learned to embrace the future and profit from it.
    Large Corporations go after the messenger not the message; sue the ISP not the content; arrest the one who shares music and not the one who steals the music.

    One thing is for certain, the future holds change, you can either surf the change or have the wave roll over you.

    The truly successful people are the ones who not just surf the wave of future, but excel at it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shohat, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:34am

    Bleh

    Nothing is sadder than seeing an advertising agency that could clearly help companies that actually produce things by at least helping with trademark issues, get another protection in the form of not being responsible for the advertisements they profit from.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:37am

    American Blinds in the subject should be changed to American Airlines?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      GoblinJuice, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:48am

      Re:

      They're blind - get it? Or it's a typo.

      Not sure! =D

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 4 Sep 2007 @ 11:11am

      Re:

      American Blinds in the subject should be changed to American Airlines?

      No, they are two separate companies. American Blinds sued Google years ago and just settled. American Airlines sued Google just last week and will probably be forced to settle (or lose its case) eventually as well.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    comboman, 4 Sep 2007 @ 8:59am

    Nothing??

    In other words, American Blinds spent a ton of money in legal costs and ended up with nothing.


    I wouldn't say they got nothing. I had never heard of American Blinds before and now I have (along with a few million other people). How much does advertising like that usually cost? Remember, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 4 Sep 2007 @ 11:21am

      Re: Nothing??

      "along with a few million other people"

      Wow, this blog really is popular....

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Jordan, 4 Sep 2007 @ 11:47am

      Re: Nothing??

      But I have no desire to buy from them, or even look at their page. This form of advertising has only made me have an aversion to them and that's not good, right?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    anonymous coward, 4 Sep 2007 @ 1:33pm

    how does discriminating against the American blind fit into Google's "do no evil" corporate policy?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Google IS evil!, 5 Sep 2007 @ 5:17pm

    Wait a second...

    "and even in that case, the fault lies with the advertiser, rather than Google"

    Wait a second... if there is any fault, Google IS partially responsible. It's like a locksmith opening a bank vault for some thieves - he can't just shrug his shoulders and disclaim any responsibility!

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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