Global Search Engine Marketing & Social Media News And Analysis » Finland

Google expands new trademark policy – but sidesteps Europe

Andy Atkins-Krüger — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:12:38 +0000

Following the expansion of their trademark policy to the UK last year, Google has widened its looser trademark policy which basically allows all-comers to bid on trademark keywords increasing the cost of trademark advertising via the number one search engine and allowing competitors to aggressively buy each others ‘marks. The new change expands the ‘we won’t intervene’ approach to a total of 190 countries. The change comes into force on June 4th.

However, Google has sidestepped the key European countries with the strongest legal rules and where cases have cost Google most in fines (see list below). From calculations, the removal of protection for trademarked terms increases advertiser costs by as much as 80% – as well as taking revenue from additional advertisers on those terms. The policy, therefore, enables Google to increase its adverising take from advertisers. The approach also affects major global brands most significantly – because they generally spend proportionately more on advertising their brands because it is those brands – and the associated products – which have made them global.

Google has long struggled to persuade blue chip advertisers to move more of their advertising budgets to Google Adwords – this is step which leaves them with no choice. However, it is a dangerous move as it could also contribute to tipping the ROI see-saw towards other newer forms of promotion such as social media and Twitter.

Having received no significant kick-back from its UK change of a year ago – it’s no surprise that this is being rolled out now. Probably, another year will pass before more countries – especially European ones – are added. I predict that France, where the courts have levied the largest fines against Google, will be the last to go.

So the following countries (European Union countries in bold) will not see the change – at least yet. Via Search Engine Land

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
France
Greece
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Australia
Bahamas
Brazil
China
Iceland
Macau
New Zealand
Norway
South Korea
Switzerland
Taiwan

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Nokia internet platform Ovi to reach Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Hungary

Andy Atkins-Krüger — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:36:50 +0000

Nokia of Finland, which just happens to be the world’s largest mobile phone maker, has partnered with leading Norwegian telecoms company – Telenor – to provide access to various internet services through Nokia’s own internet service Ovi, reports Reuters. The Telenor and Ovi services will be offered to customers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Hungary.

Why does this matter in search? Nokia is an $80 billion turnover company which makes its money from selling handsets – but it is now rolling out internet services which include maps, music and TV services – no mention of search – see this report from Cellular News. Telenor is an $18 billion turnover company. This partnership represents a considerable investment by both companies in internet access which they will control. Could well be the opportunity for a different search engine – funded by the telecoms companies – to make headway?

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Microsoft wants to buy Norwegian Fast for 6,6 billion NOK!

Sara Andersson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:38:42 +0000

Microsoft have placed a bidding for the Norwegian search company Fast. The amount is 6,6 billion NOK which is about 835 000 000 Euro!
Their plan is to integrate Fast technology into Sharepoint server: They want to keep the research team and says it should be a great effort for Microsoft in Europe.

The biggest competitors to Fast Search on search solutions for large cooperations is Googles Search Appliance, French Exalead as well as Autonomy.

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24 European states go borderless under Schengen

Andy Atkins-Krüger — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:54:49 +0000

The Schengen agreement has been extended from 15 countries to 24 giving a wider borderless Europe with no internal border controls or checks and an open market of over 400 million people. Coming into force on the 21st December, the Schengen agreement makes physical inter-trade between bordering countries easier to manage for marketers. As Europe opens its borders, and search grows quickly in Europe, Schengen makes European business roll-outs more attractive and achievable with faster distribution and lower border costs.

The new countries joining the agreement are:-

Czech Republic
Slovakia
Poland
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Estonia
Malta
Slovenia

I decided to test this with a visit to the most northerly Balkan state of Slovenia travelling from Austria through a 5 mile tunnel to the south side of the Alps. True enough the European blue flag and stars had become the standard border crossing notification and the rows of kiosks and border controls were empty and unmanned as we headed to the capital Ljublana.

Ljubljana is a town of around 230,000 people with a pretty baroque style and attractive old quarter. The local search engine is “Najdi” and the local domain is .si.

The Schengen agreement was first signed by five countries in 1985 in a small Luxembourg town ‘Schengen’ – these original five were later joined by ten others and the agreement came into force in 1995. The agreement basically means that the internal borders between the treaty countries are removed – but that those same countries cooperate to strengthen the outer border using the Schengen Information System – a database where data is exchanged. There are also special rules on how police forces work together.

The original five countries were:-

France
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
Luxembourg

Other countries which joined up to 1995 when Schengen was finally realised are:-

Spain
Portugal
Greece

Countries who joined after 1995 but before 1997 are:-

Italy
Austria
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Iceland
Monaco

The Schengen Agreement has only ever, in part, been deployed by the British or the Irish for fear of it encouraging immigration and terrorism – though it doesn’t seem to have helped much staying out.

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New Youtube-style TV site ‘Floobs’ to launch in Finland

Andy Atkins-Krüger — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:28:48 +0000

Finnish newcomer Floobs.com is to launch a tv-channel style video site where anyone can upload their videos. The site will include video feeds. Currently the site is undergoing testing in the Finnish language – but an English-language version is to follow in November.

We’ve seen a rush of video-sites in the last few weeks across the ruopean continent – but it’s great to talk of something specific to Finland – a country we don’t cover too often!

Source: Digitalmediawire

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