The Swedish Language Council has removed "ogooglebar", or "ungoogleable," from its annual list of new words after pressure from Google to respect its trademarks.
The term was included on the council's latest list of new words that have started to make their way into the Swedish language. It is used to describe something that can not be found on the Web using a search engine. But since the list was published in December, Google has worked to influence the council's use of the word, the council said on Tuesday in a statement entitled "Google does not own the language!"
Google wanted to amend the definition of the word and also have the council add a disclaimer to the list of new words to make it clear that Google is a trademark. But that didn't sit well with the council, which has decided to remove the word.
The Language Council doesn't have the time or the energy to pursue the lengthy process that Google is trying to start, according to the council's head, Ann Cederberg. It does not want to compromise and change the definition to what Google wants; that would go against its principles, she said. Google has forgotten one thing: Language development does not care about trademark protection, she added.
The Language Council is the primary institution for language cultivation in Sweden. Its mission is to monitor the development of spoken and written Swedish and the use and status of all other languages spoken in the country, according to its website.
Google hasn't replied to questions for a comment.
