« Search Engines offering SEO Services | Main | xmas/holiday keyword bids »

December 2, 2004

Geico Trademark Bidding Dispute Settled with Overture

Posted by Adam Viener

Overture and Geico have agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by Geico, ending part of the trademark dispute battle. Geico had filed suit in May against Overture Services and Google, charging the two commercial search giants with violating its trademarks when selling advertisements linked to its name in search results.

Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but a current search for the term Geico on Overture shows lots of competitors. Indicating that Geico may have backed down from their claims.

The case against Google is still on going however, and on Nov 19th, the Judge denied Google's motion for summary judgment, allowing the case to proceed to trial. In late August, the judge did dismiss claims of tortuous interference and statutory business conspiracy charges.

Both Google and Overture continue to argue that the use of trademarks in search related keyword driven ads is fair use.