Now we all know that a while back, Google started sending cease and desist letters to people using ‘Google’ as a verb.

Apparently, the Official Google Blog has the news of Google’s official stance on using ‘Google’ as a verb.

According to them, it’s all right provided that you actually make it clear that you are using Google and not just using it as a term for using any random search engine.

So, ‘Googling’ is fine if you’re actually looking up something on Google, but ‘Googling’ as a generic term for web searching isn’t allowed according to the gods that be at Mountain View.

Usage: ‘Google’ as noun referring to, well, us.
Example: “I just love Google, they’re soooo cute and cuddly and adorable and awesome!”
Our lawyers say: Good. Very, very good. There’s no question here that you’re referring to Google Inc. as a company. Use it widely, and hey, tell a friend.

Usage: ‘Google’ as verb referring to searching for information on, um, Google.
Example: “I googled him on the well-known website Google.com and he seems pretty interesting.”
Our lawyers say: Well, we’re happy at least that it’s clear you mean searching on Google.com. As our friends at Merriam-Webster note, to “Google” means “to use the Google search engine to find information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web.”

Usage: ‘Google’ as verb referring to searching for information via any conduit other than Google.
Example: “I googled him on Yahoo and he seems pretty interesting.”
Our lawyers say: Bad. Very, very bad. You can only “Google” on the Google search engine. If you absolutely must use one of our competitors, please feel free to “search” on Yahoo or any other search engine.

Hold on, shouldn’t you be able to ‘Yahoo’ as a verb as well?

It’s a shame that they feel forced to do this, but it’s really a matter of the courts. If Google aren’t seen to be defending their trademark they will lose the right to defend it and that is the primary issue here.

Well, at least we know what we’re allowed to say now. If you want any more information on this topic, don’t be afraid to search for it using your favourite search engine…