econman - 5:32 pm on Aug 14, 2006 (gmt 0)

Hard to believe they just recently noticed this little "problem."

Perhaps they were trying to get the best of both worlds?

Wait as long as possible in order to get the full benefit of having people mentally equate google with search, but then take the necessary legal steps before their tradmark rights are legally endangered?

Given the long history with q-tips, xeorox, band-aids, etc. I would think that Google's lawyers and executives would know where the legal boundaries lie and thus how long they could wait before proactively taking steps to protect their trademark.