Google Patent Application Highlights

The recent patent application filed by Google details numerous items the search engine uses to rank web pages. The specific application is summarized as:

A method for scoring a document, comprising: identifying a document; obtaining one or more types of history data associated with the document; and generating a score for the document based on the one or more types of history data.

The patent application sheds significant light for those pursuing search engine optimization with Google. Patent applications can be difficult to understand, so following are highlights that you should consider for your SEO efforts.

Update Your Site

Updating your site is important when it comes to maximizing your rankings on Google. In addition to the manipulation of keyword density and meta tags, the patent application reveals that Google places significant value on how often your content is updated. The more often you update, the timely and relevant your site will appear to Google. In turn, this leads to higher rankings.

To appease mighty Google, consider the following plan of action:

1. Update pages frequently,
2. Add new pages to your site,
3. Interlink the new pages with others on your site, and
4. Add new pages on a weekly basis instead of all at once.

When Google returns to the site, you want to make sure that there is new content. The high rankings of blog sites are evidence of this approach.

Googles Looking at Your Domain

In a new twist, Google claims that it analyzes the number of years of domain registration as part of the ranking process. The application suggests that domains that are registered for longer periods of time are given more value because such a commitment shows the site is not a fly-by-night jump page. It is recommended that you extend all domain registrations for as long as possible as part of your search engine optimization efforts. It is difficult to tell how much the registration process impacts the ranking process, but every little bit helps.

Google claims that it also digs deeper into domain names to evaluate the legitimacy of the site. Factors in the evaluation include the web host and the who is information. According to the patent application, Google maintains a database of hosts that facilitate spamming of the Google search engine. While such hosts are not detailed in the application, pray to God that you are not using one. You should evaluate your host if your optimization efforts are not producing results.

If your search engine optimization efforts for Google are failing, the patent application may provide answers. Talk about a perfect E-book!

Halstatt Pires is with http://www.marketingtitan.com - an Internet marketing and advertising company comprised of a search engine optimization specialist providing meta tag optimization services and Internet marketing consultant providing internet marketing solutions through integrated design and programming services.

What is a Trademark?

At one point or another, we?ve all seen a product or business name with a small, encircled R floating next to it. You?ve probably wondered what this R symbol really means, and how exactly it got there in the first place. Most people will tell you that it means something to the effect of ?registered,? but that?s only a small part of the significance behind the circled R.

It?s correct that this symbol does imply the term registered, but registered with whom, and how?

A "registered trademark", or ?, refers to a name, slogan or logo that has been officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Registering a trademark is beneficial to a business because it publicly states that your trademark is registered with the USPTO and therefore, you have exclusive rights to that name within your industry. This means that if your business had a registered trademark, and you found another business of a similar nature utilizing your name or logo, you would *likely have the legal right to use your name!

Each time an individual applies for a trademark, the USPTO performs a cross reference check of their name and/or design for similarities among Federally registered or pending trademarks ONLY. The USPTO search is lacking in State trademark AND US National Common-Law databases. Because the USPTO protects names in this fashion, you do not run the risk of another business utilizing and possibly soiling the reputation of the company that you worked hard to build!

Once you have applied for your trademark, the USPTO will consider it a pending mark for up to 18 months. This is among the many reasons why it is important to apply for your trademark sooner versus later. The sooner you apply, the sooner it is that you will be doing business under a registered, protected name!

* This is dependent on if the name is truly available at the time of filing. In other words, was there a prior existing Federal or State trademark? Was there prior existing Common-Law usage of the name?

Marit Lee is a Researcher for TradeMark Express. Since 1992, TradeMark Express has met the needs of their clients with comprehensive research, application preparation, attorney referrals and trademark consultation. For further details, please visit us on the web at TradeMark Express or call Marit directly at 800.550.1520.

Trademark Search

A trademark is a unique name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image or a combination of these elements that uniquely identifies your product or service to your customers and distinguishes you from your competitors. By registering your trademark, you provide your company, your product and your services with government protection that are part of the benefits of trademark rights. With a registered trademark, your competitors will not be allowed to use a logo or name of the same likeness, or produce a product or offer services that are similar to yours. For example, Apple produces computer products with an Apple logo. Another company cannot use the apple, or something similar to an apple, to identify themselves within the same industry. Sometimes the benefits extend beyond industries as well.

Trademarks are filed under the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The role of the USPTO is to make sure that there are no other trademarks like yours. This office was not setup for your benefit, but to protect the existing trademarks that are already registered. Their objective is to search for possible infringements in the trademark that you filed and rejecting your application if there is. Application fees are not refundable.

With these possible roadblocks in your application, it is best to do searches on existing trademarks to make sure that the trademark you are applying for is unique and distinctly identify your company, product or service. There are Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTD), where you can visit and manually search for existing trademarks. You can also utilize the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) online to look for existing trademarks that are registered in the United States of America. To search for existing applications, you can use the Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval System under the USPTO. By doing these searches, you save the trouble of your application being rejected.

Trademark Search provides detailed information on Trademark Search, Free Trademark Searches, Online Trademark Searches, US Trademark Searches and more. Trademark Search is affiliated with Free Patent Searches.

Understanding Trademarks And Copyrights

If youve put a substantial amount of work into your business, then you will want to protect the fruits of your labor. If you don't want your competitors to be able to take what youve done and exploit it, youre going to need to take some steps to protect yourself.

1. What's In A Name?

Your business name is the first thing that your customers will see - it has to, therefore, be memorable and easily identifyable. If your customers know your name, then youve already won the first step to getting them to trust you and recommend you to others. You can register a trademark to protect that - a logo or word that distinguishes you from your competition. Coca-Cola, for example, is a trademark of the Coca-Cola Company - if I start selling my own drink and calling it Coca-Cola, or even something like Cocoa-Cooler, then they can sue and force me to stop.

2. More About Trademarks

A trademark doesn't stop with just the name of your business, but can also be obtained for the products you sell. If you have, for example, the blendmaster 5000, you can trademark the name blendmaster. Trademarks can not be obtained for common words. For example, Apple computer doesn't own the word apple. If you are going to get a trademark, however, be sure it's worth it, because they will cost several hundred dollars.

3. Extention Of Trademark

A trademark can be given away and usually only applies in the country where you registered it. Also, your right to use the mark will only last a set amount of years, usually a decade.

4. What Is Copyright?

A copyright is like a trademark, except it costs nothing. The moment you write, draw, or record anything, you have copyright by creation. If someone else tries to copy it without your permission, you can sue. This article you are reading right now, for example, has copyright, although the author (me) has chosen to give away certain parts of it for free. This applies to other things as well, music, graphics, etc. Please note that microchips fall under a unique classification of copyright law and the rules are not the same. Usually, copyright lasts for fifty years after your death.

If you want to give people permission to freely use and redistribute something youve made (like this article, for example), then you have the legal right to do this. You can even give up your copyright on a piece of work altogether, simply by writing on it that you no longer want to own the copyright. It's that simple. Chances are, however, that youll want more protection, not less.

For more great trademark related articles and resources check out http://www.homebusinessuniversity.info