Google Loses Domain Fight Over Froogles.com

Posted by simoniker on Monday July 26, 2004 @08:01AM from the googles-google-differentiation dept.

steveshaw writes "According to SiliconValley.com, an ICANN arbitration panel has rejected Google's challenge of a Web site named Froogles.com. This means that the Froogles.com name will remain with the current owner. Also, the current owner is opposing Google's attempt to register Froogle with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, contending the mark would be an infringement of his Froogles.com mark." The story also notes: "Google, based in Mountain View, Calif., has filed 18 domain name disputes at the ICANN panel, challenging names like 'googlesex.com,' 'google.biz' and 'googleme.com.' It has won every challenge but Froogles.com."

2 of 284 comments (clear)

Re:GoogleGear by Enigma_Man · 2004-07-26 08:34 · Score: 0, Troll

Mitsubishi and Mitsubishi Cars went through the same kind of name ownership struggle. However, Mitsubishi group (not the car company) won out in that case.

-Jesse

--
Nothing says "unprofessional job" like wrinkles in your duct tape.
Re:What is Google thinking? by Trillan · 2004-07-26 08:37 · Score: 0, Troll

This is exactly how I feel. How is this even an issue?

Because Froogle is a play on both Frugal and Google. While Mr. Wolfe may have started Froogles before Google started Froogle, he started it well after Google started Google.

That Mr. Wolfe is attempting to use a confusingly similiar name in a bad-faith attempt to compete is obvious, given the layout of the Froogles web site.