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Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

nytimes.com

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Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#11

Post by kyrra »

Zigurd wrote: post #7
stephengillie wrote: post #2

Engadget article: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10043212 --- ...the Internet domain alphabet.com, as well as the trademark Alphabet, already belonged to someone else — namely, the German automaker BMW. And if they had dialed BMW headquarters in Munich, they would have discovered something else: BMW does not want to sell. Well that's embarrassing. Good thing they launched with abc.xyz. But wait... Just because…

Good thing one of them is a car company...

But Alphabet is a holding company of sorts. I don't think we'll be seeing "Alphabet self driving cars". Google's efforts on self driving cars will probably continue to be branded under Google or will get its own branding name.

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#14

Post by h1fra »

They couldn't care less. The name does not actually mater for an holding and the website will not likely be used for anything. I think no one will actually search for this.

alphabet.com does not even reach the page 1 nor will abc.xyz (unless they are faking results)

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#16

Post by dragonwriter »

Runs into in what way?

Sure, BMW owns alphabet.com -- Alphabet, Inc., uses abc.xyz, and probably doesn't care about alphabet.com. They aren't a consumer-facing entity, all the consumer facing entities are presumably going to be subsidiaries with their own names and identities.

And, sure, BMW has a trademark on Alphabet in particular domains. Again, Alphabet, Inc., is a parent entity, its quite likely the subsidiaries will all be doing business under their own names, not using "Alphabet" as a trademark in a way that would conflict with BMW's trademark.

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#17

Post by dragonwriter »

nemo wrote: post #9
Zigurd wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good thing one of them is a car company...

BMW noticed Google's pushing into the (self-driving) car business. That's what their trademark complaint's based on.

> BMW noticed Google's pushing into the (self-driving) car business.

Kind of hard not to.

> That's what their trademark complaint's based on.

BMW hasn't filed a trademark complaint. They haven't even indicated that they think that there is a violation. They have said they are looking into whether any infringement has taken place, which is many miles short of having a complaint.

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