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Google Abandons the Gmail Name In Germany

praps writes "A three-year trademark conflict has ended with Google withdrawing its use of the Gmail brand in Germany. On Friday, a plain-text message appeared, beginning 'We can't provide service under the Gmail name in Germany ... Bummer.' Despite the climbdown, Google Germany's spokesman said on Monday that the action was being taken 'even though we believe we're not legally obliged to do so.'" We discussed the tussle in Germany when Google first lost in court a year ago.

20 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Surprising? by jez9999 · · Score: 4, Funny

    But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.

    So, you have an idea that I thought up... for FREE!!! Evil commie. </Reagan>

  2. Dasterdly Deutchmen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A look at gmail.de nets some strange foreign ramblings. The first bit which says

    'G-mailer versenden und empfangen ihre elektronischen Nachrichten und echten Briefe über www.gmail.de und sparen so Zeit und Geld (Briefporto ab 2 Cent!) und entlasten unsere Umwelt.'

    Now, it's been awhile since I was in high school, but that roughly translates to:

    'G-mailer verily and emphatically this here electronic new right and etches uber briefs www.gmail.de and spares so this and gold (portable briefs at 2 cents) and enlisted users underwhelmed'

    Clearly, they want to use gmail.de to sell personalized underpants at 2 cents per unit, despite the fact that wearers are not too impressed.

    These krauts get to use gmail.de to sell their kinky feitsh-wear while the smart folks at Google get nothing? Remind me again who won the war!

  3. Silly Krauts by RipTatermen · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sure Googlegemeinschaftelektronischepostsystem will be just as catchy.

    1. Re:Silly Krauts by GeneralEmergency · · Score: 3, Funny

      You win.

      Yours was longer.

      --
      "A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
      GeneralEmergency
    2. Re:Silly Krauts by hairyfeet · · Score: 1, Funny

      Nah...It just isn't catchy enough. Now GooglehosenOktoberfestenwienerschnitzelemailen.com captures that fun loving German spirit! And if they use it without paying me I'll sue!

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    3. Re:Silly Krauts by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Funny

      That should be Göglegemeinschaftelektronischepostsytemische.

      Won't someone think of the umlaut?

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
    4. Re:Silly Krauts by RipTatermen · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, I'm fairly sure that -s System is a noun, meaning 'system', and systemisch is an adjective, meaning 'systemic', but I was mostly into German for the Kindereggs, so maybe you're right.

    5. Re:Silly Krauts by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

      Can I just remember the IP address? It's easier to memorize.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    6. Re:Silly Krauts by BluBrick · · Score: 2, Funny

      Google mail user1: "What does that URL mean?"

      Google mail user2: "I don't know - he hasn't got to the verb yet!"

      --
      Ahh - My eye!
      The doctor said I'm not supposed to get Slashdot in it!
    7. Re:Silly Krauts by xaxa · · Score: 2, Funny

      Gòøglègêmêínschàftélèktrõnïschèpõstsytëmïsch

  4. Re:Surprising? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas."

    The same could be said of STDs.
  5. Gmail can be confusing in German... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    G pronounced in German sounds like "gay". A few years ago when I told friends that I got a G-Mail beta account, they made fun of me and asked what my girlfriends thinks about that...

    1. Re:Gmail can be confusing in German... by thedarkone64 · · Score: 5, Funny

      what my girlfriends thinks about that.

      You see, that's how we know you're lying.

    2. Re:Gmail can be confusing in German... by RealGrouchy · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's why I never venture onto .de sites without first turning on my G-dar.

      - RG>

      --
      Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
  6. Re:Surprising? by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey! You're infringing on the trademark of the Film Actor's Guild!

    --
    You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
  7. Re:Surprising? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe g-mail was bought by Microsoft and they asked for $171 Billion dollars to license the trademark to Google. Muhahaha.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  8. Re:Surprising? by damista · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dunno about you but I pronounce "gmail" and "G-Mail...und die Post geht richtig ab" VERY differently.

  9. Re:Surprising? by david.gilbert · · Score: 5, Funny

    yup. Frankly, if someone had mentioned 'gmail' to me with no explanation back in 2003, I'd have assumed that it was a google product. But then I don't live in Germany.

    Yup. Frankly, if someone had mentioned 'Germany' to me with no explanation back in 2003, I'd have assumed that it was a Google product. But then I don't live in reality.
  10. Re:Surprising? by Oktober+Sunset · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh if only, I've been wanting Google to make an Ermany application for ages.

  11. Re:easy fix... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You may already know, but I just want to reiterate that your friend is an asshole. With any luck, he'll come down with some terminal illness, for which there is an experimental cure, but the company who owns the copyright on it want $500,000 per dose, and his medical insurance won't touch it.

    Also, the experimental cure has a side effect of making your limbs fall off.