Tuesday 11 August 2015

Google Creates Alphabet,Mr. Page and Mr. Brin, Google’s founders

08:44 Posted by Mohan No Comments

Alphabet is the name that Mr. Page and Mr. Brin, Google’s founders, have given the newly created parent entity that will house the Google search business and several smaller holdings like Nest, a maker of smart thermostats, and Calico, a company focused on longevity.

Larry Page, co-founder and chief executive of Google.Google to Reorganize as Alphabet to Keep Its Lead as an InnovatorAUG. 10, 2015
Sundar Pichai, the new chief executive of Google.Sundar Pichai Will Lead Google With Users in MindAUG. 10, 2015
A data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Routers and switches allow Google's data centers to talk to each other.State of the Art: With Google as Alphabet, a Bid to Dream Big Beyond SearchAUG. 10, 2015
The website for the fictional company Hooli, from HBO’s “Silicon Valley.” There is a so-called Easter egg on Alphabet’s website that sends readers to Hooli.Bits Blog: Alphabet Wordplay, a Hooli ‘Easter Egg’ and More on Google’s Name ChangeAUG. 10, 2015
But Alphabet is also the name of a BMW subsidiary that provides services to corporations with vehicle fleets. A BMW spokeswoman said Tuesday that the automaker was not informed ahead of time of plans by Mr. Page and Mr. Brin to create a company called Alphabet and had not received any offers to buy the Internet domain or the trademark.

“We are not planning to sell the domain,” said Micaela Sandstede, a BMW spokeswoman in Munich. She described the website as a “very active” part of Alphabet’s business.

BMW is examining whether any trademark infringement has taken place, Ms. Sandstede said.

Just because one company uses a name does not mean another company cannot use it. Trademark infringement occurs if another company’s use could create confusion with consumers, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Google is involved in the auto industry. It offers a version of the Android operating system for use in cars and has done extensive research on self-driving vehicles.

Possibly because of interest generated by Google’s announcement of Alphabet on Monday, the alphabet.com website used by the BMW subsidiary appeared to be overloaded on Tuesday.

Google declined to comment on Tuesday. But Alphabet — the Silicon Valley entity — already has its own website using the domain name abc.xyz.

“Don’t worry,” Mr. Page wrote on that home page. “We’re still getting used to the name too!”