Google has failed to win the Gmail name in a trademark battle in Europe. The name has been owned for over six years by a German entrepreneur that has founded a service called GMail, a same day mail delivery service. A body that is responsible for European community trademarks rejected the appeal from Google. Google had apparently tried to buy the rights for $250,000 but were shut down and saw to be threatening, aggressive, and unfaithful by the entrepreneur. Shortly after, the entrepreneur also mentioned that he also owned trademarks for Switzerland, Norway, and Monaco. Google had already had issues with the Gmail name in the UK, where a financial analytical software company settled with them out of court. Looks like Google will have to rename their Gmail email service to Google Mail all across Europe.Google loses European Gmail trademark battle
Google has failed to win the Gmail name in a trademark battle in Europe. The name has been owned for over six years by a German entrepreneur that has founded a service called GMail, a same day mail delivery service. A body that is responsible for European community trademarks rejected the appeal from Google. Google had apparently tried to buy the rights for $250,000 but were shut down and saw to be threatening, aggressive, and unfaithful by the entrepreneur. Shortly after, the entrepreneur also mentioned that he also owned trademarks for Switzerland, Norway, and Monaco. Google had already had issues with the Gmail name in the UK, where a financial analytical software company settled with them out of court. Looks like Google will have to rename their Gmail email service to Google Mail all across Europe.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-01-2007 @ 12:03PM
keeves said...
The name change in the UK (and i believe everywhere else) has no real effect. Despite been given a email with a username@googlemail.com address, any emails which are sent to username@gmail.com will also get through. So if you want a slightly more 'hip' and shorter email address just replace googlemail with gmail when you use email address.
(unfortunately all outgoing mail still has @googlemail)
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