Google loses GMail in Germany

Google has lost the right to use the name “GMail” in Germany after it was ruled to violate an existing trademark held in the country.

Google has faced other trademark disputes over the name Gmail since the service was launched in 2005.

Here in the UK, Google already lost a case brought by IIIR which led to the service being renamed GoogleMail.

Daniel Giersch, who owns the Gmail trademark in Germany, now plans to forward the case to protect other registrations in Switzerland, Norway and Monaco.

While the effect on branding can only be damaging to Gmail users, it remains surprising that Google was unable to foresee the potential trademark disputes at the launch of the service.