Stelor Productions, the operator of a children's Web site called Googles.com, said Wednesday it has launched trademark proceedings against Web search leader Google Inc., which is preparing a much-awaited initial public offering.
Stelor, based in Darnestown, Maryland, said it filed two separate actions against Google with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Stelor, which charges that Google's mark is confusingly similar to its own, is opposing Google's trademark application to cover a "long list of 'Google' goods and services, including children's books, stickers and children's clothing."
Stelor also has entered a petition to cancel an existing registration for the mark "Google" for e-mail and search engine services.
"Without question we were in the market first," Steven Esrig, Stelor's chief executive, told Reuters.
"We've been trying to get them to deal with us for almost six years. We can't even get a dialogue," Esrig said.
A spokesman for Google declined to comment.
