SEO Blog

Independent International Investment Research PLC, which is considering legal action against Google for trademark infringement on the domain name “g-mail” has prepared a valuation report on the trademark.

According to their data, the ‘gmail’ name is worth between $48Million and $ 64 Million USD.

Well, at least it’s not yellowpages.com

This just out in CNET - a UK company, Independent International Investment Research PLC, (IIIR) has disclosed that it is considering filing a lawsuit over the use of the name ‘gmail.’

It turns out that IIIR has been using the name g-mail for it’s own subsidiary’s product since May 2002, two full years before Google launched gmail. As such it has some pre-existing rights to the gmail name.

Apparently, Google’s been in negotiations with IIIR since approximately 15 months, so this cannot be viewed as a frivolous lawsuit.

This is the second such infringement action against Google for its email / gmail product. A German company, Giersch Ventures, successfully received a temporary court order which forced Google to change the name of Google’s email product to “Google Mail” in Germany.

According to Advertising Age, (don’t worry, free registration), Geico has begun sending companies warning letters, threatening to sue any company which buys its Trademark name as a search engine advertising term.

Basically, in the wake of the legal settlement of the case between Geico and Google, Geico is now proceeding to threaten all competitors.

This appears to be a case where if Geico cannot legally get the search engines to cease selling their Trademark, then perhaps they can threaten competitors. (?)

Will it work. Nope.

While the full terms of Geico’s settlement are not disclosed, this action indicates that Geico has fully abandoned hopes of ever getting Google, Yahoo, or any other advertising network to cease selling advertising based on Geico’s name.

So if they can’t win in court, maybe they can intimidate their competition (?)

This logic kind of sounds like the Canadian CRTC, which has successfully enshrined into law that it is legal to own a U.S. satellite dish, but it is illegal to use it.

Bit of a funny story I just recalled. It’s happened a few times over the years, but I thought I would share it.

I’m sure that many of my colleagues have had similar experiences, but you never know.

One day a fellow called up and wanted to know about SEO services. At first he didn’t identify what type of business he was in, but was just asking general questions.

After answering his questions he stated, “Well, I’ve talked to a few companies, and you guys know your stuff. I’d like to hire you. What would it cost, assuming I had 20 distinct pages I wanted optimized?” We gave him a ballpark price range, stating that until we took a look at the actual site, we couldn’t offer him a firm / fair price.

That’s when it got interesting. “Well, it’s an adult site, but not pornographic; It’s an escort agency.” Then, without pausing, he continued, “how about I send a few of my staff over there to work out a contra arrangement with you boys?”

“Uh, No, thanks.”

“Bah! You techno geeks are too interested in computers.”