Google to abandon Gmail name in UK in trademark dispute News
Google to abandon Gmail name in UK in trademark dispute

[JURIST] Google [corporate website] will no longer use the "Gmail" name for its UK e-mail service in part of a long-running trademark dispute with small UK financial research company Independent II Research (IIIR). IIIR claims that it launched its "G-MailTM" web based email back in May 2002, nearly two years prior to Google's launch of "GmailTM" and last month threatened to sue Google [CNET report] over the dispute. From Wednesday, new users will get an email address with the suffix "googlemail.com" instead of "gmail.com" although users who already have gmail.com addresses will keep these. Google said that it made the change voluntarily to prevent its users from becoming distracted and confused, emphasizing that it does not believe IIIR "provided sufficient evidence to establish any common law rights" to use the name. IIIR has been asking Google to change its e-mail name since 2004 and will continue to seek the trademark to the Gmail name. The Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.