Kaleidescape CEO Fears Market Confusion if Google Bows Kaleidoscope Tool

Kaleidescape is weighing its options over Google’s potential introduction of a Kaleidoscope-branded streaming aggregator tool for the next version of Chrome (see 2008210048), emailed CEO Cheena Srinivasan Monday. Google’s initiative “will create lots of confusion in the market due to the similarity of our trademark,” he said. “Google will own the name Kaleidoscope (very close to Kaleidescape) for a content aggregation app on its Chrome browser. If they fail, that could also harm our brand as customers and prospects may be confused about our own successful offering.” Kaleidescape is “discussing this internally” and will soon disclose “what we plan to do next to stop this confusion,” said Srinivasan. Google didn’t comment Tuesday.