Australian tech start-up Calico questions Google’s use of its name
When technology giant Google announced a new healthcare and biotechnology company, Calico, earlier this month, the founders of an Australian start-up in a related industry with the same name raised an eyebrow.
Co-founder and technical director of the fitness and health system Calico Jack Owens told Fairfax Media Google had made a "mistake" by using his company's name.
"It's clearly in the same space and we're doing the same thing," said Owens, 25.
Owens founded the Perth start-up with his dad Kevin, 45. The four-year-old company provides apps and an online system for fitness and health.
It has attracted about $850,000 in venture capital, $250,000 of which came from the federal government-backed Commercialisation Australia.
Calico — the name stands for"calories in, calories out" — has an online system and iPhone app for users to track whether they are reaching their fitness goals. The app was promoted as "new and noteworthy" in the health and fitness section of Apple's App Store when launched in March. The company also recently partnered with Diabetes Australia to offer the latter's 1.1 million members access to Calico's iPhone application.
"The app is a fitness tracking app that enables users to sign up, set their goals and achieve them with GPS tracking technology,"said Owens.
"It's about rewarding them and it's about achieving daily goals to try and knock off each day your activity goals to achieve the overall goal which might be weight loss or to get fit."
Owens wants the tech giant to explain the oversight.
He has organised a teleconference to be held with Google's trademark attorney on Tuesday (US time) to discuss the matter.
Fairfax Media sought comment from Google on Sunday but it hasn't yet responded.
"[It's] very confusing [having two companies with the same name].We just don't want to be disregarded," Owens said.
"We have trademarks for Calico in the US, the UK and Australia. We double checked them all and they're all in the same class. As far as being upset? We're not upset with Google yet.
"Mistakes can be made and we're going through a procedure with Google and with our legal advisers as to the next step.”
Co-founder and technical director of the fitness and health system Calico Jack Owens told Fairfax Media Google had made a "mistake" by using his company's name.
"It's clearly in the same space and we're doing the same thing," said Owens, 25.
Owens founded the Perth start-up with his dad Kevin, 45. The four-year-old company provides apps and an online system for fitness and health.
It has attracted about $850,000 in venture capital, $250,000 of which came from the federal government-backed Commercialisation Australia.
Calico — the name stands for"calories in, calories out" — has an online system and iPhone app for users to track whether they are reaching their fitness goals. The app was promoted as "new and noteworthy" in the health and fitness section of Apple's App Store when launched in March. The company also recently partnered with Diabetes Australia to offer the latter's 1.1 million members access to Calico's iPhone application.
"The app is a fitness tracking app that enables users to sign up, set their goals and achieve them with GPS tracking technology,"said Owens.
"It's about rewarding them and it's about achieving daily goals to try and knock off each day your activity goals to achieve the overall goal which might be weight loss or to get fit."
Owens wants the tech giant to explain the oversight.
He has organised a teleconference to be held with Google's trademark attorney on Tuesday (US time) to discuss the matter.
Fairfax Media sought comment from Google on Sunday but it hasn't yet responded.
"[It's] very confusing [having two companies with the same name].We just don't want to be disregarded," Owens said.
"We have trademarks for Calico in the US, the UK and Australia. We double checked them all and they're all in the same class. As far as being upset? We're not upset with Google yet.
"Mistakes can be made and we're going through a procedure with Google and with our legal advisers as to the next step.”
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