GRONINGEN, The Netherlands, September 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Groningen-based internet company Baidu Europe is selling its highly sought-after brand and domain names. As well as the brand name Baidu, the domain names for sale include baidu.eu, baidu.tv, baidu.nl and baidu.be. Managing Director P. Ufkes of Baidu Europe is taking this step in response to the difficulties his company has faced since a Dutch agency began to promote the Chinese search engine giant Baidu in Europe. Ufkes plans to continue his company under a different name.
"The mounting popularity of the Asian Baidu, which has grown into the world's third-biggest search engine; the launch of new services such as Baidu TV - the domain name baidu.tv is already owned by Baidu Europe - and the Chinese company's activities related to the Olympic Games are making it very difficult to differentiate between the two companies," explains Ufkes.
Great interest
The European trademark rights of Baidu Europe, the generic domain names baidu.eu, baidu.tv and ten other European Baidu domain names are being sold through the Amsterdam-based trademark agency De Merkplaats. Managing director Ufkes is expecting to attract a lot of interest in the European trademark rights and domain names. "Baidu Europe has gained a very good reputation during the past five years." Ufkes has already received a number of offers to take over his company's brand and domain names. "But we weren't yet ready to take the step."
Own search engine
The internet company Baidu Europe was established in 2003 and employs eight people. The company specialises in the provision of total automation and web design solutions. When Ufkes had the name Baidu registered he had not yet heard of the Asian Baidu.
Following the Asian Baidu's decision in 2006 to have itself represented in Europe by a Dutch agency, confusion arose between the identities of the two companies. To make it clear that Baidu Europe is not directly linked to the Chinese company, Ufkes announced plans to build a search engine of his own to compete with Google. Although that media announcement brought an end to Baidu Europe being confused with the Asian company, competing against a superpower such as Google proved unsuccessful.
New name
The recent expansion of the Asian Baidu's activities and the developments related to the Olympic Games have once again created confusion between the identities of the two companies. Managing Director Ufkes has responded to this problematic development by instructing trademark agency De Merkplaats to sell the brand and domain names, which are protected in 27 European countries. The Groningen-based company's new name will not be announced until the sale has been concluded.
For more information please contact managing director P. Ufkes of Baidu Europe, Tel. +31(0)65-2569249. For specific questions about the sale of the brand and domain names, please contact the legal staff at trademark agency De Merkplaats: Tel. +31(0)20-330-6610
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