Google is a verb - Oxford English Dictionary

Before it's over, being Googled will be a swear with the G-word replacing the F-word, such as my rankings dropped "I've been Googled" or you get jealous and ticked at someone that did well and you yell "I hope you get Googled", getting drunk will be "Google-faced" and giving people meaningless platitudes for answers to support questions will get you called a "Google-head"

Or, in a western...

"Come on out Sheriff, we're gonna Google ya, gonna Google ya bad" which means the sheriff will get sandboxed somewhere in the desert after his ratings are shot down.

I'm not a lawyer but when I went to Uni and attended my compulsory law subjects I seem to remember something about brands that become verbs lose much of their trademark legal power.
i.e. If it is generally accepted that you can 'Google' something then Google's ability to sue for trademark infringement is greatly reduced.

I'm not trying to say you can now create a search engine and call it Google but you could create a search engines and encourage people to 'Google' in it.

but then again I was drunk for most of my time at Uni so I could be waaaaayyyyy off here ;)

GerBot,

I think there is something to that. "Xeroxed", and "Elevator" come to mind.

If thats the case, why aren't Dyson using [or allowed to use?] 'Hoover' to describe their vacuums?

I agree, folks... Don't really know of any concrete legal cases that I could point to, but I wouldn't really be surprised if that has happened before (ie. a Trade Mark owner has sued, and lost a case). I have been told that this has happened before in the past.. but of course, you know that's just anecdotal.

Oh and btw? Sorry to have to say this, but.. about the only note- or "news"-worthy portion of this story is the inclusion (or "admission") by the OED of what is already commonly known - Google is a verb already! Saying that "Google is a verb now" just because the OED says is just... not right...