Google Gets Another Adwords Trademark Suit

Metaspinner Media GmbH is filing a suit with the district court in Hamburg, Germany over its trademark "Preispiraten" being used as a Google AdWord. After issuing a preliminary injunction against Google, the first oral proceedings are scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, 2004. It will address whether Google can use registered trademarks and names for its own advertising and marketing purposes against the explicit will of the trademark owner and without authorization (such as a license, for example) as an AdWord and consequently as a trigger for displaying advertisements. This is what Metaspinner GmbH wants to prevent. "Advertising third parties and Google in particular should not be able to exploit and siphon off the considerable expenses incurred by the company when building up the brand '