WebProNews

A trademark battle in Europe has forced Google to change the name of its web-based email service.

New email accounts created in Germany and the U.K. will be under the name Googlemail instead of Gmail. A UK-based financial research company, Independent International Investment Research, owns the the trademark G-mail in around 80 countries, FT.com reported.

Google plans to continue to fight IIIR's claim, but an executive noted that Google changed the name to avoid confusing people. Existing Gmail accounts will retain the Gmail.com address.

A German court had ruled another company owns the Gmail trademark there, forcing Google to make the Gmail/Googlemail name swap.

Google and IIIR had been in discussions about the name and rights to using it. IIIR values the Gmail name at between $45 million and $60 million dollars. A spokesperson for IIIR said they had not heard from Google since August.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.