Earlier this week, Google lost a lawsuit against a German trademark holder, Daniel Giersch, which bars the search engine giant from using its trademark in that country. As Barry reports, similar restrictions are in effect in the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and DigitalPoint discuss the ramifications of this loss for Google.
Some believe that the loss is deserved and the Giersch win the suit fair and square, despite the costs.
The guy has the rights to the name, the case is cristal clear. And if someone owns the name you can either buy him out or look for another name if he doesn't want too.The only reason Google hast taken this to court is to generate as many costs as possible until he gives up the name. If someone with less money than Giersch had owned the name he would already be bankrupt.
On DigitalPoint, the angle shifted to Google's offering price of $250,000 for the Gmail name. Many feel that it was a low offer and that Giersch was correct to have turned them down.
Discussion at WebmasterWorld and DigitalPoint.