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."

Comments

Just pick another name

[headkase]

It's not even out of beta yet for cryin' out loud. All Google has to do is rechristen it as something else and actually trademark the new title.

It's early enough

[gambit3]

It's early enough.
Gmail isn't open to the public yet.

Change the name.

When it's open to the public, ppl will recognize it only by its new name, and the pr*cks who tried to profit from registering it will be out in the cold.

Full of smart guys in the world

[stanley_caiww]

Sorry Google, please pay for your name.