Back in 2003 when Wired magazine wrote about Google's fight against evil, Google's intentions seemed so sincere. They really seemed to live up to their philosophy.  Two years and a gazillion dollar IPO later, the rules have changed. 

Sergey and the gang seem to be more interested in the bling bling their IPO has gotten them rather than keeping up their “do no evil” end of things.  The company has all sorts of money to hire people to abuse average citizens like Chris Langsdale.

Chris started a portal site for developers interested in extending the Google Deskbar. He thought he'd be clever and use a logo that looked similiar to the Google logo and used the name Gdeskbar.  I had blogged about it last month and thought it was great that Google was not letting its impending showdown with Microsoft impede creativity.

Chris, however, got a rude awakening when Google's Trademark Counsels (lawyers?) pitched a fit about his logo.  He was forced to take down the logo.  He has since stopped updating the site.  As he tells it:

It turns out their problem was my logo. Specifically the identical font, similar color scheme, and similar name (Gmail). [...] they finally admitted they didn't own the trademark rights for the name "Gdeskbar." But "we [Google] do not allow uses of our logo font and color scheme, even if it is being used in connection with words that aren't Google trademarks."

I found that interesting because you can buy "their font" (Catull) off the Internet and no company or individual can patent or trademark a color scheme. And the last response I sent to them was this conclusion I am sharing with you. Thats not the only reason I shut down the site, it seems developers have lost interest in writing plug-ins with the exception of one I know.

You would think that if developer interest in something was waning, you would be nicer to the few people who actually still coded for your product.  Granted Google didn't make any money off these tools, they just got greater mindshare and positive exposure to the masses.  As Pete Dapkus points out, "Google lives and dies by the good will of its users and customers"

In the end, Google is no more good or less evil than any other company. They are just in it for their own self interest. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the free market system and there's nothing wrong with making money.  I just hate being lied to.

They've gotten into scraps before over their logo and likeness, but in their case against Booble, they had some justificiation.  Booble was an adult-oriented site. That would actually debase the Google name and trademark. A developer who is doing evangelizing work for you (for free) is not going to take down your image.  I do understand that with trademark law, you must protect your trademarks or lose them, but Google has bigger battles to fight.

This is a case where copyright law has gotten out of hand, especially when Bill Gates might think you're a communist. 

So, If you're feeling subversive, then check out Logoogle.com. They have a myriad of fake Google logos guaranteed to get the blood boiling of trademark lawyers everywhere.  Visit the site quick, before the lawyers take it down.  They don't need a court order you know, they just need to threaten the hosting provider.

What about Constitutional rights, you ask? Yeah well, they're gone now.