1. I think this was a very smart move on Googles behalf because it shift the legal weight of it's American Brand name Google will be interesting to see it affects Congress and Senate hearings.

Posted at 8:53PM on Apr 12th 2006 by Stephanie

2. Sounds to me like they're trying to distance their behaviour in China from the Google brand everywhere else.

Not cool.

Posted at 9:38AM on Apr 13th 2006 by Paolo

3. I thought Gu Ge meant something closer to "harvest song".

And the decision was made because the word "Google" sounds like "old dog" in Chinese.

Posted at 11:33AM on Apr 13th 2006 by David Hammond

4. And by the way, China isn't exactly the only place Google is required by law to filter results. Here in the good U.S. of A. Google is required to filter certain sites from the search results (some warez sites, some sites the government has deemed a threat to national security, etc.). Although the number is significantly fewer here, it still shows that Google is subject to local laws as much as anyone else and that's something you just have to accept (even if you don't have to accept the laws themselves).

Posted at 11:39AM on Apr 13th 2006 by David Hammond

5. While "Gu" in chinese has the meaning of "valley", I agree with David that in this case it means "harvest".
In Chinese, harvest implies fullness and prosprerity. This implication conforms with the implication of the word "Google".

Posted at 12:56PM on Apr 13th 2006 by Zhiwei Wang

6.
It might sound a bit odd when I say this but maybe that is the more sanatized version of Google, so to speak.

Posted at 3:19AM on Apr 14th 2006 by Andre

7. A littlte bit correction, "Gu" means fullness and prosprerity and "Ge" means songs in Chinese.
And "Gu Ge" means "the song of foison".
It suggests that Google is ready to win a siginificant quotient in Chinese search market.

Posted at 8:14AM on Apr 17th 2006 by Max Chen

8. The chinese name of google is very country style. I personally don't like it. The chinese name of yahoo (tiger) is much better.

Posted at 2:03PM on Apr 17th 2006 by Jacky

9. No GUGE Campaign

http://www.NOguge.com

Some Chinese users are not to fond of Google’s new Chinese name, and started a petition against it. A forum reader translates parts of the site; “The name ’GuGe’ makes us feel ill! Even more, it makes us disappointed!”

Source: http://blog.outer-court.com/

Posted at 10:40AM on Apr 19th 2006 by Tim

10. and what's this

?

www.guge.nl

Posted at 6:31PM on Apr 24th 2006 by mark

11. and what's the dutch site

Posted at 6:32PM on Apr 24th 2006 by mark

12. It does make sense, if "Google" has a negative meaning in Chinese. otherwise, I can't understand why you'd change to a new name if you have a brand as strong as Google's.

Posted at 11:52AM on Apr 30th 2006 by Road Tester