It may seem that Google rules the world, but the ubiquitous company is having some trademark trouble. The Wall Street Journal reports Google is having a tough time getting the U.S. trademark office to approve its registration of the word "glass." Google wants to control the word as the public launch for its internet-connected eyewear nears.
Last year, Google successfully trademarked the phrase "Google Glass," but examiners are pushing back its application for the single word, claiming it could create customer confusion. Even if the word is displayed in the company's sleek font, examiners worry that it's still "merely descriptive" and generic words, like glass, can't be trademarked. ("You couldn't trademark the word 'shoe' for a shoe you're selling, for instance," notes the Journal.)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Mary Poppins tour: 'humdinger' of a show kicks off at Bristol HippodromeThe Week Recommends Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers are 'true triple threats' as Mary and Bert in 'timeless' production
-
Jaguar's stalled rebrandIn the spotlight Critics and car lovers are baffled by the luxury car company's 'complete reset'
-
What the chancellor's pension megafund plans mean for your moneyRachel Reeves wants pension schemes to merge and back UK infrastructure – but is it putting your money at risk?
-
Racist texts tell Black people in US to prepare for slaverySpeed Read Recipients in at least a dozen states have been told to prepare to 'pick cotton' on slave plantations
-
Australia proposes social media ban before age 16Speed Read Australia proposes social media ban before age 16
-
FTC bans fake online product reviewsSpeed Read The agency will enforce fines of up to $51,744 per violation
-
States sue TikTok over children's mental healthSpeed Read The lawsuit was filed by 13 states and Washington, D.C.
-
Amazon ending 'Just Walk Out' grocery checkoutSpeed Read In its place, the company will let customers scan while they shop with Amazon Dash Cart
-
Justice Department bites Apple with iPhone suitSpeed Read The lawsuit alleges that the tech company monopolized the smartphone industry
-
House votes to force TikTok to sell or face US banspeed read The House passed a bill to ban TikTok on national security grounds unless it sells to a non-Chinese company
-
Apple kills its secret electric car projectSpeed Read Many of the people from Project Titan are being reassigned to work on generative AI
