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Google Circles C&D'd  (View post)

Mark [PersonRank 0]

Saturday, April 8, 2006
18 years ago5,856 views

Will people never learn? This is exactly what you can expect when you register a domain with names such as Google, Microsft, IBM, etc.

Tony Ruscoe [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Very strange.

Maybe they were particularly upset because the page included IFRAMEs which contained content from the Google servers. Even when viewing the cached version, you'll see your Google Account name in the top right (taken from news.google.com) or a "Sign In" link in if you're not already signed in:

http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.googlecircles.com

It also leeched the favicon file from their Google Groups site and redirected people from Google's official site back to the Google Circles site if they changed their preferences, using this link:

http://www.google.com/preferences?hl=en&prev=http://www.googlecircles.com/

(Google really should stop any redirects using that page unless it send people back to an official service page!)

He also made the mistake of saying the content was ©2006 Googlecircles in the footer, which implied he was claiming copyright for the images, design, content, etc. Perhaps that upset them a bit too.

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I got away with http://GoogleAprilFools.com and http://SpamGoogle.com ...

Tony Ruscoe [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

And I got away with GoogleBrins.com (so far...)

pokemo [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I think we must first receive Google's permission before using any
of Google Brand Features on our website.

This policy is available at
http://www.google.com/permissions/guidelines.html

:)

Stephen [PersonRank 0]

18 years ago #

They haven't fully complied – after following Google's cache of the site I came to the following url: http://www.googlecircles.com/about.html

This is still active and contains what Google doesn't like. Someone ought to tell him...

Justin Pfister [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

At one time, I think i had more *Google* domains than anyone not related to Google.. Googleonia.com was the reason Philipp found me online. At the height of my Google domain registering rampage, I think i had almost 70, including GoogleLibrary.com.. In the end, I decided to just get rid of most of my Google domains because i didn't believe they'd ever do anything great for me.

I think GoogleCircles.com is a good idea., just by the sound of it. I know PHP has this location based function called "Giant Circles" or "Great Circles".. Google probably liked the idea! Especially on their quest to take over local spaces. Not only that, the guy that did GoogleCircles seemed like his design was RIGHT ON!! Good for him!

Every webmaster should get a cease and desist from Google at least once.. It's like getting in trouble in school. Anyone else in the Google Cease and Desist Club?

Utills [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I find the bit where it links in with Google Account pretty scary. The fact that he actually gets info directly from the Google servers, so that it actually looks like its a parody from Google itself. My guess is that Google found this to be a security risk since the "Sign In" link could take a person anywhere, including a fake login page whereby account details can be stolen.

I think from a pure april fool's joke point of view, I doubt Google has a problem with the many initiatives that were launched. However, you cross the line when you pretend that what you are offering actually comes from Google and link it with private info like the Google Account.

The fact Google was in the URL is just the method by which they made him shut the site down and in my opinion not the cause of the C&D.

Travis Harris [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

So, google, with a trademark gets to take billions of potential domains off the market?
what if I want to have a website about the GPL DVD player Ogle ?
I call it : http://www.LetsGoOgle.org (Yes, I did just jump and register this for free with Microsoft Office live) they can just force me to give it to them? I think not!
Now, I do see that those of you that have less tried to emulate google are not getting attacked, but doesn't it bother you that they think they just can?

Utills [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

The "Google" was not just in the URL. The whole site was an impersonation of Google itself. I'm sure in your example most people would not be comfortable with the idea that Google thinks that it could reclaim a domain that has nothing to do with search or Google and there is no confusion between the two for consumers.

Haochi [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Google Circle should frame the "sign in" on the top...

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

See here...

http://www.googlecircles.com/gcircles3.php

The whole thing is still online.

pacificdave [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

personally i think Google Circles should make him change the site, not take it down. it "could" be used as a phishing site because some "not knowing" person would probably take it seriously. i didn't really like it that my Google Account name and link to was displayed at the top right.

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Just as an aside....

I know it is wrong. And copyright was broken. And some people didn't like seeing their name etc etc...

You have to think it must have taken considerable work. And it is pretty good looks wise.

SCJM [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Thanks for the link, Sam. I think it's a pretty cool site. He probably worked on it for many weeks/months. It [i]would[/i] be kind of cool to get a C&D from google though..

elyk [PersonRank 6]

18 years ago #

>I got away with GoogleAprilFools.com and SpamGoogle.com ...
probably because you put a note on the bottom of your homepage specifying that it's not affiliated with google. Google circles had nothing anywhere to imply that it was not actually run by google.

pokemo [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

elyk,

You got the point...:)

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

> Anyone else in the Google Cease and
> Desist Club?

Well, no official C&D but those nice emails where they tell you to take something down or else they send the lawyers. I received it for:
- A googlebomb logo for posts about googlebombs, showing the Google logo with a bomb replaced by an "o" (I complied)
- A request for me to stop using the official Google Answers Researcher logo as it is only reserved for Google Answers Researchers (I didn't comply, as I am a Researcher... duh)
- A request to not name the chat bot Googlebot (he's now named Gbot)

This blog was actually called Googlosophy Blogoscoped in the beginning, but then I read through the Google trademark guidelines, in which it is said that Google doesn't like their word used in variants such as Googlicious...

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