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Geico - Google has been sued because of trademark infringement!

The complaint, filed by plaintiff Government Employees Insurance Co. (Geico) against defendant search engine companies Google Inc. and Overture Services Inc. on May 4, 2004 alleges that defendants by selling  the famed "Geico" mark as adword so that the protected term can appear in sponsored search results, are infringing on the complainent's trademark. According to the suit, that practice causes consumer confusion in violation of the Lanham Act, the primary federal law covering trademark registration and protection.  Geico has asked for a permanent injunction, attorneys' fees and damages.

 

And finally something for fans of conspiracy theories: Geico is not only the largest direct marketer of auto insurances in the United States, which makes it the most high-profile American company to have filed a complaint against Google over their adwords, but also a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company owned by Warren Buffett. Buffett is rumored to be a good friend of Bill Gates. The start of the search engine war against Google?

 

  • May 19, 2004: Olsen, Stefanie, Geico sues Google, Overture over trademarks, ZDNet
    "Auto insurance company Geico has sued Google and Overture Services for allegedly violating its trademarks in search-related advertisements, in the latest legal salvo against the Internet companies."

 

 

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