Google loses appeal for Gmail trademark in Europe
Due to another company trademarking "G-Mail" in Germany, similar to Google's "Gmail" in the US, the search engine giant lost an appeal to use "Gmail" in the European Union. G-Mail stands for "Giersch Mail" in Germany, where Daniel Giersch runs an electronic postal delivery service -- if that's not email, we couldn't say what it is.
As a result, Gmail is now known as Google Mail in Europe. Google's email service is also known as Google Mail in the UK, where another company trademarked "Gmail" shortly after Google launched the service.
And the moral of the story is: The next time you launch any product or service, make sure to trademark the name before. As for Google, the company "got caught slippin" -- as we say in the hip hop world -- so too bad, so sad.
As a result, Gmail is now known as Google Mail in Europe. Google's email service is also known as Google Mail in the UK, where another company trademarked "Gmail" shortly after Google launched the service.
And the moral of the story is: The next time you launch any product or service, make sure to trademark the name before. As for Google, the company "got caught slippin" -- as we say in the hip hop world -- so too bad, so sad.













Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsjohnMar 20th 2008 12:23PM
While reading this article, and I was struck that it probably was relevant to a social networking site, HumanBook, which has over 250 million profiles of people, including you, your friends, classmates and relatives.
The HumanBook is a mutually managed people directory. People list their own real-life connections, and other connections they have awareness of, to create a lifelong network. The network houses the connections, and then the collaboratively updated address book nurtures them, assuring that they need never be lost. HumanBook is the tool that will allow you to cherish and sustain all of the connections of your whole life. So if you're interested, go to http://www.HumanBook.com and find your profile today!
MaxsquaredMar 20th 2008 12:22PM
Why why why.... can't they change their name? I much prefer gmail too googlemail, it's just too long.
I know there is work arounds, but it's just why do we have to do that?
JohnMar 20th 2008 2:42PM
I am confused. What prevents someone in Europe from signing up with Gmail in the US?
keevesMar 20th 2008 5:34PM
Nothing, if you go on a holiday to US, and want a @gmail instead of @googlemail account then sign up then. (also, anyone who signed up prior to the change to @googlemail kept their @gmail address)
whiskeyMar 20th 2008 10:57PM
Try to write to yourself @googlemail.com
In order to make it easier for you... you've got both addresses working...
x20marMar 20th 2008 7:08PM
You know, despite the legal name change, everyone will still call it gmail
Nicki BrøchnerMar 20th 2008 9:16PM
allow me to correct an error in this post. Because this ruling only effecting the German markedet. Since it is only in Germany that Daniel Giersch has the G-Mail trademark.
andreaMay 2nd 2008 5:49PM
A friend in Germany set up a new "gmail" acct and they got one with googlemail.de, not googlemail.com. Anyone know if they dropped .com for the country domain? He really wanted dot com