Google bans Anti-MoveOn.Org Ads(Heil Hillary-No Dissent Will Be Tolerated!)

The Examiner ^ | 10-11-07 | Robert Cox

[tcrlaf]

WASHINGTON- Internet giant Google has banned advertisements critical of MoveOn.org, the far-left advocacy group that caused a national uproar last month when it received preferential treatment from The New York Times for its “General Betray Us” message.

The ads banned by Google were placed by a firm working for Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ re-election campaign. Collins is seeking her third term. Earlier this week, Google told Lance Dutson, president of Maine Coast Designs, that the ads he placed for Collins had been removed and would not be allowed to resume because they violated Google’s trademark policy.

Google’s Web site states, “Google takes allegations of trademark infringement very seriously and, as a courtesy, we’re happy to investigate matters raised by trademark owners.” That suggests Google acted in response to a complaint by MoveOn.org.

The banned advertisements said, “Susan Collins is MoveOn’s primary target. Learn how you can help” and “Help Susan Collins stand up to the MoveOn.org money machine.” The ads linked to Collins’ campaign Web site with a headline reading “MoveOn.org has made Susan Collins their #1 target.”

The Collins Web site claims that MoveOn has contributed $250,000 to her likely Democratic opponent and has run nine ads against her costing nearly $1 million. The Web site also displays MoveOn.org’s controversial “General Betray Us” ad.

[Madame Dufarge]

I'm torn.

Living in the People's Republic of Maine and having to put up with the embarrassment known as Susan Collins and despising the commies who run Google is not good for the blood pressure.

[Free Vulcan]

Even the 9th Circus says it’s not a trademark infringement.

The article also points out the hypocrisy of MoveOn.org, as they name drop corporations all the time. Someone needs to fight fire with fire.

[roses of sharon]

AlGore is a Google board member.

[free_life]

Here are some good search alternatives to Google. These will all go in FireFox search bar. Probably IE too, but I don’t use IE.

http://www.scroogle.org/

http://www.altavista.com/ they have image, video, MP3 Audio and news searches too.

http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/search/index.htm

http://search.yahoo.com/

http://www.goodsearch.com/

http://www.ask.com/?o=0&l=dir

http://www.live.com/?searchonly=true&mkt=en-CA

If Google does not like our politics and values lets go elsewhere.

[WOSG]

boycott Google.

http://www.dogpile.com/

[PreciousLiberty]

“I thought the use of the “Betray-Us” ad featuring their logo was the trademark violation. If it’s just the use of the name at issue, then of course it’s insane.”

Even if the ad were used, it is ‘fair use’. Political discourse can’t be supressed over brand identity.

Trademarks were established so businesses could protect themselves from similar sounding (or identical) copycats. That is a far cry from the issue here.

[Right_Rev]

Dogpile has been mine for years...google = leftist traitors

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

I thought they had a reasonable out, given the cost of fighting in court against a political ally. Legal issues come up when someone threatens litigation — frivolous or otherwise — which they seem to be implying.

But... I was wrong. A lot of people don’t find it reasonable and the story’s getting traction. I hate Google anyway, so I’m fine with that.