Here in the States, the name of a device goes a long way for some people. After all, you don’t want to be the one running around with some phone with a ridiculous name, right? In the case of Google’s very own Nexus One, it looks like things aren’t going as well as the Mountain View-based company would like. Reports are coming in that the United States Trademark Office has officially denied the Google phone’s other, more official name, and that means Google has been put on the spot.
Google filed for the patent last year, on December 10, with a direct connection with mobile phones. Apparently there’s another trademark with the same name, because that’s exactly why the Trademark Office has denied Google’s request. The other mark? That was granted to Integra Telecom in 2008, which relates to “the provision of telecommunication services and the transmission of voice and data.” So, basically, the Trademark Office has gone ahead and assumed that people would be confused by the similarities. We . . . Well, we don’t necessarily agree with that statement.
If Google wants to respond to the Office’s decision, they’ve got six months to do it. In that time, Google can continue to use the Nexus One name for their device. In fact, they can continue to use the name until Integra Telecom sues them for infringement. Which, if that does happen, we imagine that a settlement would be just about mandatory, which which Google would pay to continue to use the name. However, if Google can prove to the Trademark Office that their trademark should be supported, then everything could be turned around for the company. Or, if they really wanted to, they could use this opportunity to change the name of the device. What do you think?
[via CNET UK]
