Google's lawyers banned tech news website 9to5Google from using its ads on Wednesday — freezing the site's "6 figures" per month revenue.
But just one day later, Google backtracked by reinstating the ads.
The dispute surrounded the Google-focused news website's name, which has been in use for five years, according to a public statement by 9to5Google. Google's lawyers said it is a trademark violation.
9to5Google said on Wednesday: "We are a news site dedicated to covering Google, not trying to masquarade [sic] as Google, so we’re appealing this decision." It added: "But there is a big chance we’ll have to change our name," before running through several possible name changes:
But perhaps we should embrace the bigger company name: 9to5Alphabet.com. Obviously that has the same risks. We could also just reduce ourselves to as few of characters as possible with 925.co? Or maybe we lose the 9to5 and go 24/7? You tell us!
9to5Google had, until Wednesday, generated revenue through Google’s Doubleclick/Ad Exchange network and Adsense. Google have advised the website to use different third party networks to monetize the site.
In an update 9to5Google said: "So we’re back..for now – but obviously we’re exposed and it might make sense to make a change anyway. Stay tuned."
When the ads stopped working at around 12 pm on Wednesday, the tech news site reached out to Google's ad team. A Google account representative replied: "I want to start by apologizing for the abrupt and confusing way that this issue was brought to your attention. This has been really frustrating – for both of us – as these issues are normally communicated internally in advance so that I am able to give you warning and clarify the issue."
Google added: "We understand that you have been operating the site for many years and have even attended several Google hosted events without anyone bringing up an issue; however, our Legal Team must take action when they discover a trademark violation whether they discover it early on or much later."
