photo credit: [ Roberto Bouza ]
In yet another domain name dispute, Google leaves the table with its tail tucked between its legs. The search giant lost a recent lawsuit against Groovle.com, where Google watchdogs claimed that the domain name bears enough resemblance to Google.com to constitute a copyright infringement. The courts say otherwise, making the lawsuit only the second loss in a series of similar suits filed by the leading search engine. (Information Week reports on the Google vs. Groovle lawsuit.)
What exactly does a Groovle do? The Canadian-based website offers customizable search homepages. That’s right, you can finally get that Twilight or Megan Fox fix every time you search with a groovy Groovle search page. You can also upload your own images to make a one-of-a-kind search homepage. (Get yours at Groovle.com.)
While I’m not ready to give up Google just yet, I do like the idea of choosing my own background images to look at every morning while I browse my favorite blogs and news sites. Perhaps Google will take the loss in stride and offer a similar service as a form of “I’m taking my ball and going home”. Either way, Groovle is in headline news and flying high, for now.
What I can't understand is why Google can target a site such as Groovle.com and completely ignore http://www.gazoomy.com which is the same same but different.