View Full Version : New Legal Threat To GMail
RealitY
09-13-2005, 07:57 PM
Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday September 13, @09:36AM
from the stuff-you-can't-make-up dept.
wellington writes "Google is facing a renewed threat of legal action from a company that claims to own the intellectual property rights to its GMail e-mail service. Independent International Investment Research, a British company that specialises in research and has several leading City investment banks as clients, argues that it launched "G-Mail web based email" in May 2002.
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/13/1227226
Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday September 13, @09:36AM
from the stuff-you-can't-make-up dept.
wellington writes "Google is facing a renewed threat of legal action from a company that claims to own the intellectual property rights to its GMail e-mail service. Independent International Investment Research, a British company that specialises in research and has several leading City investment banks as clients, argues that it launched "G-Mail web based email" in May 2002.
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/13/1227226
Original article (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-1776740_2,00.html)
both sides making offers but failing "to meet in the middle".
IIR: Give us £25M -> GAP <- Google: Fuck off
IIR should save their money. The idea of storing info on the web is hardly original, neither is web based email, so the only possibility is that they are talking about the actual name. That isn't an infringement of intellectual property rights, it is a Trade Mark dispute. The fact that they are calling it "intellectual property rights" seems to indicate that they failed to register the TM.
The unspecified German company may have a better claim, since it would appear that it has actually registered the TM.
Santa
09-14-2005, 08:13 AM
when your ontop they will try to take you down
scales1
10-20-2005, 02:38 PM
Well, Google is forced to change the name:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-1834586,00.html
Barbarossa
10-20-2005, 03:19 PM
Well, Google is forced to change the name:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-1834586,00.html
I can't decide who's side I'm on. :blink:
In the end, I don't think I care. :)
Samurai
10-20-2005, 03:27 PM
Yup. Now changed to "Google Mail".
Why would this company wait so long to take action, after G Mail has been out for so long. I'm smelling money-making in the background.
The story behind the new "Google Mail" name
You may have noticed the Google Mail logo. We are changing our service's name in the UK. Starting October 19, 2005, all new users will have @googlemail.com addresses. Don't worry, though – all messages are being sent and delivered as before.
Why the name change then?
We have been involved in a dispute regarding the Gmail trademark in the UK. Another company has claimed rights to the Gmail name. We have tried to resolve this dispute through negotiations, but our efforts have failed.
We are still working with the courts and trademark office to protect our ability to use the Gmail name, but in the meantime, we want you to have an email address you can rely on.
We are dedicated to offering the best email service to our users. Our email service stays the same no matter what the logo is or what follows the @ symbol. This change lets our team focus their time on continuing to bring you excellent service.
What this means for our users
Do I need to do anything?
No. Although the name is changing, your email service remains the same. To sign in, you can go to the same page as before, or you can now also visit: http://mail.google.com/mail.
When will you start offering @googlemail.com addresses? When will this change take place?
Starting October 19, 2005, the Gmail service will be renamed Google Mail in the UK. We will no longer issue new @gmail.com addresses. All new addresses will be @googlemail.com addresses.
What if I invite someone? Will they also have to create an @googlemail.com address?
That depends on where your invitation recipients are located. If they are in a country where we issue Gmail addresses, then they will get an @gmail.com address. But from the UK, you will only be able to send Google Mail invitations. If your recipient is also in the UK, he or she will only be able to get an @googlemail.com address.
What if I'm a UK user who already has a Gmail address? Will I also need to change that address?
No, this change doesn’t affect existing Gmail addresses. For now, our plan is only to issue @googlemail.com addresses to new users. Trust that we will do the best we can to offer all our users a reliable and consistent email experience.
Well, Google is forced to change the name:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9075-1834586,00.html
thats a shame, i realy like Gmail and prefer it over "Google Mail" http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/images/icons/icon7.gif
Barbarossa
10-20-2005, 03:31 PM
Yup. Now changed to "Google Mail".
Why would this company wait so long to take action, after G Mail has been out for so long. I'm smelling money-making in the background.
Oh they were definitely hoping for a pay-off. I expect they are now a bit miffed because they've been made to look like a bunch of cunts.
DarthInsinuate
10-20-2005, 04:21 PM
bah, "Google Mail", what a shit name, I'm going to find another email provider :dry:
Samurai
10-20-2005, 05:29 PM
bah, "Google Mail", what a shit name, I'm going to find another email provider :dry:
I hope that's sarcasm ;)
Their service is going down the toilet, and if you're already a UK citizen with a GMail account, it won't change. You get to keep it.
silent h3ro
10-20-2005, 09:29 PM
I'm pissed now.
Samurai
10-20-2005, 09:32 PM
I'm pissed now.
Why?
erRor67
10-20-2005, 10:43 PM
Wait... so this only affects people living in the UK? What about someone living outside of the UK and registers for an email accound. Do they get an Gmail or a googlemail address?
Barbarossa
10-21-2005, 08:26 AM
GMail everywhere except the UK and Germany (at the moment).
And even existing customers in those countries who already have a gmail account get to keep it (at the moment).
That's the situation (at the moment)...
GMail everywhere except the UK and Germany (at the moment).
And even existing customers in those countries who already have a gmail account get to keep it (at the moment).
That's the situation (at the moment)...
thats one more point ahead for us over the new joiners :lol:
twisterX
10-21-2005, 06:44 PM
MotherFUCKERRSSS!!! :angry: :angry: :angry:
I hope their little shitty webserver dies. :fist:: fist: :fist:
SingaBoiy
10-22-2005, 01:43 AM
lol... sucks to live in the UK :P
Samurai
10-22-2005, 02:19 AM
lol... sucks to live in the UK :P
unless you've already got a gmail account. besides, what's to stop people signing up as an other country? ;)
Filliz
10-22-2005, 02:23 AM
And who the fuck really cares?
SingaBoiy
10-22-2005, 03:15 AM
lol... sucks to live in the UK :P
unless you've already got a gmail account. besides, what's to stop people signing up as an other country? ;)
Guess you can if you fill like using a proxy. Simple solution really :)
jetje
10-26-2005, 09:44 AM
i love to get me a Fe-Mail account.....
that would be an interesting mailservice name :)
thiago_
10-26-2005, 06:38 PM
wow!
twisterX
10-26-2005, 08:32 PM
one thing i dont get is that how will they know that you live in the UK.
Coudltn u use a proxy or something and sign up for a Gmail account instead of a google mail one.
Barbarossa
10-27-2005, 08:27 AM
one thing i dont get is that how will they know that you live in the UK.
Coudltn u use a proxy or something and sign up for a Gmail account instead of a google mail one.
Google knows everything about all of us. :ph34r:
Maybe we should write to IIR and offer to sell them our Gmail accounts.
A couple of grand ought to do it.:shifty:
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