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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

#32
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed that nobody is going to think Google is a marginal company. IANAL, but I'd think it's a bit odd that nobody from Google would contact BMW (as BMW spokesperson said in article). An announcement this big concerning two large companies doesn't seem a situation where you'd ask forgiveness rather than permission.

Permission/forgiveness for what?

There's a fairly common saying about it being preferable to "beg forgiveness" than to "ask permission". In this case, I was referring to Google possibly mentioning to BMW their intent to use the Alphabet name.

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#34
post #8

Seems like a non-issue. They did no research ahead of time regarding alphabet.com/@alphabet handles... this would indicate that they are not that concerned about the visibility/branding of the holding company, which stands to reason. It's not like they didn't think about these things when they were naming, they just don't care.

Yeah, to imply that the leaders of a massively successful company didn't think to look into naming issues is extremely naive or grasping for news straws at best.

In a way they may have not or they would have confirmed that BMW wouldn't have an issue with it.

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#35
post #8

Seems like a non-issue. They did no research ahead of time regarding alphabet.com/@alphabet handles... this would indicate that they are not that concerned about the visibility/branding of the holding company, which stands to reason. It's not like they didn't think about these things when they were naming, they just don't care.

Exactly, holding companies do not need to worry about their marketing. http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#37

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…

Runs into in the sense that the first website people will type when trying to access the website of Google's Alphabet is surely alphabet.com.

Re: Google Creates Alphabet, but Runs into BMW

#38
post #8

Seems like a non-issue. They did no research ahead of time regarding alphabet.com/@alphabet handles... this would indicate that they are not that concerned about the visibility/branding of the holding company, which stands to reason. It's not like they didn't think about these things when they were naming, they just don't care.

Yeah, to imply that the leaders of a massively successful company didn't think to look into naming issues is extremely naive or grasping for news straws at best.

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