Google Inc, fighting to consolidate its trademark globally, faces an obstacle in the world's second largest Web market--China's www.Gmail.cn, which is refusing to sell its Internet address to the US giant.
A legal source told Reuters on Monday that Google was trying to buy the Internet domain name www.gmail.cn, which is run by Beijing-based ISM Technologies.
The name closely resembles Google's internationally known email service, www.gmail.com, and the colours in which the two logos are written are similar. The '.cn' suffix is commonly used for Chinese domain names.
Google recently began offering free Gmail accounts in China to promote its brand among local users.
"Google has contacted Gmail.cn about the Web address and logo issue, but there is no progress so far," said a legal source in Shanghai familiar with the situation.
ISM Technologies--which on its Web site www.ism.net.cn claims to be the largest wholesale Internet domain registrar accredited with Chinese government-backed Internet body CNNIC--refuses to sell, but there is as yet no sign that Google will sue, the source added.
Google's China spokeswoman Jin Cui did not answer repeated calls to her cellphone. A spokesperson for Gmail.cn could not be contacted by telephone calls to the company's Beijing offices.
NAME GAME
Google is already embroiled in legal action, launched earlier this month, against a group of Polish poets to stop them using the Web address www.gmail.pl, European news reports have said. The company also this week reportedly lost an attempt to gain sole control over the Gmail trademark in Switzerland.
But the Gmail.cn case may prove more complicated, given that intellectual property issues in China can become complicated by politics, the source added, especially between US and Chinese firms.
"It's unlike the Polish case. The Chinese company is also an internet service provider which provides mail services, and Gmail can literally just be referring to a 1G mailbox or something like that," said the source, referring to the 1 gigabyte-sized mailbox.
Google already owns local Web addresses www.google.com.cn and www.google.cn, aimed at the world's second-largest Internet market after the United States with around 137 million Web users.
Google is fighting to narrow the gap between its market share of around 17 per cent in China and market leader Baidu.com's share of around 58 per cent.
And Google's trademark worries may not end with China.
A search on several domain registration Web sites showed that variations on 'gmail' were still available for purchase and www.gmail.de called up a Web site for a German courier service
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
Gmail domain dispute looms for Google
February 28, 2007, 10:28 amWorld is recognising India's presence
February 28, 2007, 10:22 am
In 1978, only few had heard about biotechnology. But this never once deterred Kiran Mazumdar Shaw from going ahead with her dreams. From a little operation in her garage to establishing a world-class institution, the Biocon chief has successfully carved a place for herself and the country in the global arena.
Yet "there is no time to relax. This is going to be a very exciting year for India Inc. There is a lot in store, positive signs and plenty of challenges," said Shaw.
"India is going to consolidate its position in the technical sector and would gain much more in terms of global presence.”
Talking about the growing Asian market, Shaw said, “The world is now recognising the presence of India as well as China. Perhaps it would not be correct to put one on top of the other. Both countries are extremely important for the world. Both countries have thrown open a plethora of opportunities.”
She, however, was quick to add, “But to ensure the sustenance of this growth, it is important to focus on the country’s infrastructure and to penetrate deep into the rural land. It is this step that would bring the real success.”
Ranked among the 50 most powerful businesswomen, Shaw has immense faith in the youth power of the country and feels they need to rightly channelise their energy. “The tendency to take shortcuts is not good. The ‘get rich quickly’ attitude prevailing among the youths of today has to be immediately done away with. This approach is not sustainable.
“Job-hopping has become rampant. It may fetch you good money but it does not help you build experience or your personality.
“Youth movement is very positive and if developed with the right folds, a lot can be done.”
Empowered nation and national pride has always gone hand-in-hand for Shaw. “Pride to me is the most powerful ethos,” she had once said and once again she expressed the “need to build the nation pride”.
“We need to eradicate poverty and generate employment and all this can be easily achieved through education.
“We all need to put in a little for nation building – a nation we are proud of!
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
Yet "there is no time to relax. This is going to be a very exciting year for India Inc. There is a lot in store, positive signs and plenty of challenges," said Shaw.
"India is going to consolidate its position in the technical sector and would gain much more in terms of global presence.”
Talking about the growing Asian market, Shaw said, “The world is now recognising the presence of India as well as China. Perhaps it would not be correct to put one on top of the other. Both countries are extremely important for the world. Both countries have thrown open a plethora of opportunities.”
She, however, was quick to add, “But to ensure the sustenance of this growth, it is important to focus on the country’s infrastructure and to penetrate deep into the rural land. It is this step that would bring the real success.”
Ranked among the 50 most powerful businesswomen, Shaw has immense faith in the youth power of the country and feels they need to rightly channelise their energy. “The tendency to take shortcuts is not good. The ‘get rich quickly’ attitude prevailing among the youths of today has to be immediately done away with. This approach is not sustainable.
“Job-hopping has become rampant. It may fetch you good money but it does not help you build experience or your personality.
“Youth movement is very positive and if developed with the right folds, a lot can be done.”
Empowered nation and national pride has always gone hand-in-hand for Shaw. “Pride to me is the most powerful ethos,” she had once said and once again she expressed the “need to build the nation pride”.
“We need to eradicate poverty and generate employment and all this can be easily achieved through education.
“We all need to put in a little for nation building – a nation we are proud of!
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
Chinese growth path not the way for India
February 28, 2007, 10:19 am
Even as SEZs continue to generate much controversy, Raghuram G Rajan, former Economic Counsellor and Director of Research, IMF, said that the debate over SEZs should centre on paying the 'right price' to the cultivator, dependent on market
In context of SEZs, he also said that it must be remembered that industrial productivity was greater than agricultural productivity. He ruled out India attaining food sufficiency in the near future.
He said that the same set of reforms could work differently for different people. Just like economic reforms, reforms in other sectors also benefited different sections of people, he said, giving the example of reservations in the educational sector.
While speaking on the good that the economic liberalisation of 1991 had done, he said more reforms were needed in the current scenario.
"People take for granted the Chinese path of growth is the way to take", he said when asked on the inevitable comparison between the India and China's economic growth. India's advantage lies in its democratic system.
He identified infrastructure as the short-term issue facing the country's economic development and equality as India's long-term goal. While highlighting India's economic growth so far, Raghuram Rajan warned against complacency setting in and to "keep at what we are doing."
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
In context of SEZs, he also said that it must be remembered that industrial productivity was greater than agricultural productivity. He ruled out India attaining food sufficiency in the near future.
He said that the same set of reforms could work differently for different people. Just like economic reforms, reforms in other sectors also benefited different sections of people, he said, giving the example of reservations in the educational sector.
While speaking on the good that the economic liberalisation of 1991 had done, he said more reforms were needed in the current scenario.
"People take for granted the Chinese path of growth is the way to take", he said when asked on the inevitable comparison between the India and China's economic growth. India's advantage lies in its democratic system.
He identified infrastructure as the short-term issue facing the country's economic development and equality as India's long-term goal. While highlighting India's economic growth so far, Raghuram Rajan warned against complacency setting in and to "keep at what we are doing."
Courtesy : Expressindia.com