Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 11:14:37 AM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Chinese Translation Ours, Company Tells Google

Posted Dec 14, 07 3:24 PM CST in Technology,  Business 

(Newser) – A Beijing company has sued Google over the search engine’s Chinese name, insisting it registered “Guge” first—and that the Californians should pick a new Far East handle. Beijing Guge Sci-Tech says it claimed the name in April 2006, while its nominal American competition didn’t make its Chinese presence official until November of that year, the AP reports.

Google doesn’t dispute the chronology, but says its Chinese name—not a real word, but rather two characters meaning “valley” and “song”—was widely reported on the web before last April. But Beijing Guge SciTech claims the confusion has hurt its business, and wants Google to back off by changing its name—and, of course, pay damages.

Source Associated Press

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Google Tries Free Music in China

    Feb 6, 08 4:09 PM CST
    Google Tries Free Music in China In an effort to compete with search rival Baidu, Google will join with music companies to offer free music downloads in China. The hometown search engine, which has 60% of the local market to Google’s 25%, has long hosted free searches for unlicensed music downloads, and piracy has largely slain China’s entertainment industry. Google’s new service could satisfy music bigwigs and cut into Baidu’s market domination. More »

  • Quite Literally, Chinese Aren't Saying 'Google'

    Dec 12, 07 2:43 PM CST
    Quite Literally, Chinese Aren't Saying 'Google' "Google" is a verb in many dictionaries, but the challenge of pronouncing it in Chinese has spelled trouble for the planet’s biggest search engine. "G-O-O-G-L-E is not a normal Chinese spelling and people don't pronounce it right," one Google exec tells Bloomberg of China, where the company holds less than half the market share of leader Baidu. More »

  • China Blocking Users From US Search Engines

    Oct 19, 07 4:05 AM CDT
    China Blocking Users From US Search Engines Chinese searchers trying to visit Google, Yahoo and Microsoft Live Search are being redirected to the Chinese search engine Baidu, according to tech news sources. Speculation has it that the Chinese government is blocking the American engines because officials are angry that the US awarded the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal this week. More »

Workers clear a stage ahead Google global Chinese name launch ceremony April 12, 2006 in Beijing, China. Google said it has adopted the Chinese-language brand name 'Gu Ge' for its Chinese operations,...   (Getty Images)
Google announces the "Gu Ge" brand name in Beijing, in this file photo.   (Getty Images)
A women polishes a dais before the Google global Chinese name launch on April 12, 2006 in Beijing, China. Google said it has adopted the Chinese-language brand name 'Gu Ge' for its Chinese operations,...   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

China • Google • trademarks


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Business Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »