Should Guruji Sue Google?
Posted on: June 9, 2008
- In: Business | Entrepreneurship | India | Technology
- 27 Comments
Guruji, for what its due to them, have been quite consistent with their logo. But it seems Google is on a rebranding spree. From the use of their Capital G, they are going to a smaller G which eerily looks like what Guruji’s logo is.
Considering that Guruji’s logo is two years (or more) old, and Google is just fiddling around, It would make perfect sense to file a lawsuit against Google – if the Guruji guys were smart enough to file a trademark for their logo.
There are lawyers these days who are willing to take a percentage of the compensation, and given the exposure and media ride that it will give Guruji, It’s a move that is strongly suggested. I hope the guys take it.
What’s your take on this?
27 Responses to "Should Guruji Sue Google?"
June 9, 2008 at 6:38 am
Vipsy,
Maybe. But the matter of corporates and survival are pretty much with such strategies.
Let me throw this open on your side. If you were a search engine, had taken 11 mil in funding and yet no one knows much about you, and you need to get traction fast… wouldnt you take this up?
June 9, 2008 at 6:54 am
Hmm, So now the point is, this is not a core strategy but an act in frustration. In frustration someone can go anyway he wants. Suing and protecting trademarks and copyrights is task of giants / who have built huge and have enough to protect. Guruji has little to protect and more to build. They may have copied lot from google in the course of development. In that case, suing Google may prove a boomrang for Guruji.
I m not sure if you know, but check similarities between Airtel and Youtube logos, http://pratham.name/post/33997727/airtel-vs-youtube-logos
June 9, 2008 at 6:58 am
hmmm, never thought that we’d end up saying
Google – an international clone of guruji…
it looks very similar, they should go ahead
and sue, if only for the publicity..definitely
enough to put google in a er, g-spot?
June 9, 2008 at 7:02 am
First of all, take a chill pill 
Why are you getting so worked up.
And Fair enough, frustration might be a bad term to use, but i might even consider it an opportunity. You have no idea how far people have gone to get TC-ed.
I wonder why Google is meddling with their logos though. Hmm.
June 9, 2008 at 7:29 am
Interesting Story! Lets wait for the guruji team to rise and shine! It will be exciting to know what action they take on this. If google has copied the logo, its good that they are paying heat to what Indian search engines are upto..! Its good that ways as well! Waiting for guruji to react!
June 9, 2008 at 8:55 am
It’s a move that is strongly suggested. I hope the guys take it.
Is that serious advice?
I don’t think so 
June 9, 2008 at 9:05 am
hmm, never thought i’d say ‘google – a global
clone of guruji’… but the resemblance is
definitely there to sue, if only for the
publicity… enough to put google in a er,
g-spot
June 9, 2008 at 9:28 am
Vijay,
With a funding backing them, I am sure they would have their trademark for their logo.
Regarding the sue thing, you said it right. They should hire a lawyer who dislikes google, give him percentage and file a suit.
All gain, No loss for Guruji.
Thanks,
Rashmi Ranjan Padhy
What is the future of the online ad industry?
Comments on http://rashmiranjanpadhy.com/
June 9, 2008 at 9:32 am
@ Vipsy…
If you think the logos of airtel and Youtube are anywhere close, I would say…. well nothing ….. cant say it here
June 9, 2008 at 11:54 am
i think, one of guruji’s investor is google. so not sure have that will impact.!
June 9, 2008 at 11:56 am
Yuva, not google. Sequoia is a common investor for them both. But I dont think Seqouia will be shielding google – they don’t have to.
June 9, 2008 at 12:55 pm
This is certainly a good way for guruji to get noticed. I dunno much about trademarks to say if they would win against google.
June 9, 2008 at 2:54 pm
hi Vijay,
This looks like a cool idea to get publicity.But if guruji sues google it may backfire considering the design similarities which both of them share.
Why not shoot an open letter to gOOgle and cc it to TC and remind it of “DO NO EVIL!!” in a typical GANDHIAN style.
“Guruji’s Ghandigiri makes Google realize it’s mistake!!” looks a lot better headline than “Guruji sues Google” wotsay…
June 9, 2008 at 5:27 pm
wow! will be fun to see a Indian startup sue Google, whtever the result may be
June 9, 2008 at 5:38 pm
They want it to look good on the new iphone. This popped up on techmeme a few days back. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/one-fish-two-fish-red-fish-blue-fish.html
June 9, 2008 at 9:55 pm
It appears someone has brought this blog post to guruji’s attention.
June 10, 2008 at 5:52 am
Can anyone sue something just on basis of resemblance?
They sure need to patent or copyright it,right?
June 10, 2008 at 6:31 am
Sri, Trademark. If the logo resembles and clashes in branding, one can sue.
June 11, 2008 at 3:53 am
I think it makes a lot of sense sense from a marketing point of view. The mileage that Guruji will get irrespective of the result of the lawsuit in itself will make up for whatever may be the expenses.
June 11, 2008 at 4:02 am
I wouldn’t advice that in order to take on Google and prove a point, but it’s an interesting way to get publicity: not by paying money to advertising/PR firms but by doling the same to a lawyer.
June 11, 2008 at 6:01 am
Or is it that post-acquisition integration plan is on its way
Nice observation on that ‘g’.
July 31, 2008 at 7:42 pm
A late comment to your post…in anycase, my 2 cents… A trademark litigation is unlike the patent litigation, where you can (most of the times) prove that there was clear infringement based on what is claimed in the patent.In a trademark infringement case you have to prove that both sell the same product (true here) and the consumer will get confused that the products came from the same provide( possible grounds here)….
However, the pr/monetization might outweigh burning bridges and leave a bad taste!
Disclaimer : I am not a Lawyer ( But thank God I am not one)
August 2, 2008 at 3:18 am
Pachi: Am I serious? Hmm.. i donno.. seems like an option, doesnt it?
December 7, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Hi,
Guruji don’t want to sue Google because Google changed the favicon when Geegain.com launched.
Thanks,
Shaan
June 9, 2008 at 6:35 am
lame idea.
Sue the giant in the industry, to get some free marketing for your company. Rakhi sawant also does this.
And, who told you, guruji owns the ‘g’. For that they can also sue the whole internet for using ‘g’ anywhere..