Slashdot Mirror


Gmail Under Trademark Dispute

fbform writes "As reported by this article on InternetNews, when news about Google's IPO broke on March 31, 2004, some companies (Cencourse, Precision Research and ProNet Analytics) made a beeline for the USPTO to get Gmail trademarked in their name, as Google's IPO prospectus said that its unregistered trademarks included Gmail. Google itself was fourth in line, and it was followed by the Gospel Music Association. This might be a very sticky issue because USPTO Trademark Administrator Sharon Marsh says 'The application process is first come, first served. Applications are processed as they're received, and the person second in line will get a refusal of registration from our examiner.' All of which means that between Google's delay in applying for the trademark, the other organizations' attempt at what can only be called cybersquatting, and the USPTO's bureaucracy, Google could well be denied the use of Gmail as a trademark."

8 of 273 comments (clear)

  1. Easy Solution! by blue_adept · · Score: 4, Funny

    rename G-mail to G-spot. Fits in nicely with their new playboy image as well. ;)

    --

    "Is this just useless, or is it expensive as well?"
  2. Re:anonymous coward by kingkade · · Score: 1, Funny

    or even: @gofuckyourselfgospelmusicassociation.yeahsuckitus pto.com

  3. Why not Goomail? by Dan+East · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gomail is probably already in use, but Goomail is more fitting I think.

    Dan East

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  4. I heard a competitor saying... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yahooooooooooooo!!!!!!

  5. Re:This seems epidemic at Google by rs79 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Then several months later I get a note from one of their financial departments asking me to fill out a survey so they could better get to know their "suppliers".

    So send them an invoice.

    --
    Need Mercedes parts ?
  6. Re:Cybersquatting? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The article, that you didn't read.

  7. Re:Pretty redulous... by Guppy06 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Gmail is so wide spread, how can they not get the trademark? And fp?"

    That's exactly the problem: Google didn't get fp at the USPTO.

  8. Re:Pretty redulous... by TheLittleJetson · · Score: 2, Funny

    yeah, serious -- trademark sillyness like this (lindows, too) is funny. why don't they just call it giggity-giggity-fuck-trademarks-mail.com -- it'll still kick ass.