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Google "Loses" Gmail in Europe

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the what's-in-a-name dept.

Hippie Hippie Shake writes to mention that Google has just lost the right to use the name 'Gmail' in Europe, according to the EU. "Daniel Giersch, a German-born 32-year old entrepreneur, has just announced that his company received a positive ruling last week from the Harmonization Office supporting his claim that "Gmail" and his own "G-mail" are confusingly similar. G-mail is a German service that provides a "gmail.de" email address, but also allows for a sort of "hybrid mail" system in which documents can be sent electronically, printed out by the company, and delivered in paper format to local addresses." It looks like "Google Mail" from here on out, at least in the Old Country."

10 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Google farts! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    and slashdot smells it! news at 11!

    1. Re:Google farts! by kevin_conaway · · Score: 2, Funny

      Quit stealing my thunder (fart pun well intended!

  2. Well? by sebisor · · Score: 5, Funny

    Congratulations Daniel. Looks like in EU at least the David can defeat Goliath.

    1. Re:Well? by SamuelDr · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not the David, The Daniel. His name is Daniel.

    2. Re:Well? by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      Congratulations Daniel. Looks like in EU at least the David can defeat Goliath.

        In the U.S., it takes The Donald to defeat the Rosi...errr Goliath. ;)

      --
      My blog
    3. Re:Well? by charlieman · · Score: 2, Funny

      And not the Goliath, the Google. It's Google.

      No wonder one day I opened my account and the logo changed to Google Mail...

  3. Translation - by lecithin · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Daniel Giersch, a German-born 32-year old entrepreneur, has just announced that his company received a positive ruling last week from the Harmonization Office supporting his claim that "Gmail" and his own "G-mail" are confusingly similar."

    Translation -

    "Daniel Giersch, a German-born 32-year old entrepreneur, has just announced"

    That he is now G-Uber Rich!

    --
    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
  4. Re:Lost rights to a beta product name... by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

    As much as I like the name Gmail and would be sad to have to say something longer all the time

    Um.... yeah. This definitely makes the list of things that make me sad.

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  5. Re:Perception of lawyers by vertinox · · Score: 2, Funny

    Saying 'very evil' is a bit of a strech.

    Maybe when you say "bad" in German it literally translates to "very evil!!!!" Ever see a German say "I love you" to another German? I'm not sure but it always looks like the couple wants to tear each others throats out when they say it.

    --
    "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
    -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
  6. they should brand one for the Euro market then by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Instead of 'g' for Google, they could use 'e' for Europe - and call it something like E-mail or somesuch.