Lokks like the big G has to open their wallet

[liquidcherry]

Looks like the big G has to open their wallet

Today in a german publication, article is translated with google, so i am not responsible for any grammatical errors :lol: :

Not for one million!

Under Gmail.de a user finds not the Google Mailservice but the company site of Daniel Giersch. He wants to summarize under the name G-Mail different means of communication and to offer a post office box for post office, E-Mail, telephone, fax and mobile phone. One could say: He has a vision.

On the other side also someone stands with vision: Google, world-wide more acting Internet in a revolutionary manner, large company headquarters, large war cash, large E-Mail service. That is called in the whole world equal: Gmail. Except in England and Germany.

On the island the Independent possesses internationally Investment Research (IIR) the rights of the use of a name at “Gmail”, in Germany is it entrepreneur and investor Daniel Giersch. Both stand in the way of Googles plans of a globe-re-clamping of uniform E-Mail service. In the united kingdom and in Germany Gmail is called therefore Google Mail.

Also not badly. But not well enough for Google: Gierschs lawyer let 250,000 dollar align, offered to Giersch for the rights to the name. But no chance: Even for several millions dollar he would not let go the rights. “G-Mail is Daniels baby”, quotes The Registerden lawyer. And only under this name his client wants to make business , finally stands for "Giersch Mail".

Here is the link to the original article for everyone who wants to learn german or can read it:
http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/tech/0,1518,472725,00.html

Cheers,

Frank

 

[Spade]

I think he should have tried to negotiate a better price, I think for the amount of time and legal consideration Google will probably invest, this guy might be tempting fate.

 

[Ronald Regging]

I wouldn't sell it either. It's essentially a gold mine. Think about it, if he has a legal claim to it and is successful in fighting Google, like was the case in the UK, it's like winning the cybersquatter lottery... Only he's not squatting... But he still benefits from Google's TM and probably gets tons of traffic.

Think of what Adsense.com could have accomplished if they actually pursued real development as opposed to being extremely bitter about the fact that Google essentially stole their TM.... They had full legal immunity since they had the TM first in the advertising category and could have developed an advertising network that could have possibly rivaled Google's Adsense, using traffic that was originally meant for Google If someone stole my TM, I couldn't think of sweeter revenge than using it against them to steal all of their customers and building an empire off their dollar.

These kind of interesting scenarios present themselves when major corporations get the "Manifest Destiny" disease... Definitely fun to watch.

 

[Skinny]

Yup it's a keeper.

Nice article.

Skinny

 

[VegasCoupons]

Google owns Adsense.com now...

 

[lpstong]

Well apparently Daniel Giersch has owned the domain for quite sometime. Even before Google did Gmail. So technically he is and never was a cybersquatter. Thats why he still retains the right to the domain. And Google also went after the Gmail version I believe in Poland. It is owned by poets from that country. They also won the right to retain the domain.

So Google wants to rampage and act like Godzilla. Which we can understand, they are a big company with a trademark. But really sometimes, lets play nice Google. Giersch had the domain first before you were even concieved. Play nice now.

 

[Mike]

Google is trying to flex the american muscle on european grounds,....good luck with that. The german rightfully owns and refuses to sell the domain, i agree with Slip, i'd monetize the living daylights out of it.

Unless google sends over a very reasonable offer, which will most likely have to be in the multi million dollars range, Giersch is probably not even going to move a finger. The sweetest part about it, he knows it.

Reminds me of the time when a very close friend of mine, back in Europe, attempted to Copyright/TM the Euro Currency Symbol for its use in Austria. He almost got away with it, however, numerous death threats and other little "hints" gave him the idea that it might not be smart after all.

I hope none of this is going to happen Giersch.

 

[lpstong]

Google is trying to flex the american muscle on european grounds,....good luck with that. The german rightfully owns and refuses to sell the domain, i agree with Slip, i'd monetize the living daylights out of it.

Reminds me of the time when a very close friend of mine, back in Europe, attempted to Copyright/TM the Euro Currency Symbol for its use in Austria. He almost got away with it, however, numerous death threats and other little "hints" gave him the idea that it might not be smart after all.

If what you say is true about your friend. It appears America is not the only country flexing their muscles.

 

[Ronald Regging]

Google owns Adsense.com now...

That's because the original owners sold it to a third-party who did not have any TM rights to it. Whether the new owners sold it to Google or handed it over are unknown.

 

[scriptillusion]

I am sure there was some type of monetary arrangement....

 

[GeoOwners]

if goog offered for example, $500,000 for the domain it would be temping...he could buy another great domain and have no risk (what if his monitizing attempts fail?...imho


.

 

[MichaelV.]

id negotiate for a price and retire, i wouldnt even try to go head to head with them

 

[Walec]

Google have problems with gmail.pl too