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<h1>Google vs Doogle: Internet Goliath threatens young South African</h1>
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<p>The internet super giant has threatened legal action against a
tiny jobseeker website run by a 23-year-old South African.</p>
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title="Posts by Jenni Smout" rel="author">Jenni Smout</a> on 29
November, 2012 4:33 pm in <a
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<p><a
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height="283" width="390"></a></p>
<p>Andries Maree van der Merwe from Mpumalanga received a letter
from Google’s lawyers ordering him to either shut down or change
the name and logo of his website Doogle. The site, set up in
January 2011, allows those searching for work to upload their
details for free and browse online directories.</p>
<p>The website was set up after Van der Merwe dropped out of school
aged 16 and worked as a street vendor. “I sold newspapers on
street corners and people told me what was wrong,” he recalled.
“They wanted a place where they could go to find a job.”</p>
<p>After Van der Merwe had an idea for the website he bought a
computer for R600 from a pawn shop. The website is slowly growing,
having recently received its millionth hit, but not yet making
any money. “Sometimes I have to catch fish from the river to eat.
But I think God is with me,” he said.</p>
<p>Google, worth an estimated £160bn with 7.2 billion hits a day,
has complained that his logo and search engine infringe its
trademark and there is a danger that users will assume Doogle is
associated with Google.</p>
<p>Van der Merwe has offered to put a notice on the site, distancing
Doogle from Google. Google’s spokesperson in South Africa was
unable to comment directly on the case, but stated “we are
passionate about protecting the reputation of our brand”.</p>
<p>Yet the South African remains defiant. “I’m not giving up my
name. Doogle is who I am. It’s my business. I registered the
company and legally acquired the domain.” His lawyer Emmie de Kock
described it as “a possible David-Goliath style battle”.</p>
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