From the planet Goo comes hope

Google for Googles, and you'll get a reference to goggles.
By KIM CROSS
SCRIPPS HOWARD
A. Once upon a time, the Googles dwelled happily, if obscurely, on the fictional planet of Goo. Then along came Google, the popular Internet search engine.
After that, things just haven't been the same on Goo.
The Googles are characters in "Googles and the Planet of Goo," a 1991 children's book by Steven A. Silvers.
Steven Esrig, a Maryland entrepreneur, owns the licensing rights to the book. In July 1997, he registered a kiddie Web site, Googles.com.
Two months later, the creators of Google, the Internet search engine, registered the domain name Google.com.
Last week, on his 40th birthday, Esrig sued Google for trademark infringement, saying the similarity of the names is creating problems for his business. (Google executives have not commented on the suit, but we wonder if they chuckle evilly knowing that every time a search for "Googles" is done on their engine, it will ask whether you meant "goggles.")
Esrig spoke by phone about life and justice in the land of Goo:
Q. What exactly is a Google?
A. "Google is a cute little four-eyed alien from the planet Goo. They have come to the planet Earth to help children learn about science and the environment, to reduce anxiety and raise self-esteem. They do this through music, song and dance, and what we call 'edutainment."'
Q. How many Googles live on the planet Goo?
A. "Well, we've got six that we know about. Oogle, Iggle, Oggle, GooRoo and the twins, GooLala and GooBoo. They're all different colors."
Q. Who's the most popular?
A. "It's hard to say. Little girls love Iggle. Boys love Oggle, the blue one. They all have different characteristics and personalities."
Q. Do you personally identify with any particular Google?
A. "I tend to favor GooRoo, the old and wise. He is the typical grandfatherly, wizardly, sagelike Google. He's very patient and very kind."
Q. How did you come to be involved with Googles and the Planet of Goo?
A. "I have two young children, and I've been concerned about their safety on the Internet. I wanted to create a place where I could give childhood back to children. I think children are getting older younger. This was a marvelous opportunity to take care of the children of the planet."
Q. Is there a lot of Goo in your life?
A."Oh, you have no idea! We are so Goo-involved. It's become part of the vernacular. Goo morning. Goo night. Gootastic! People who become exposed to the universe will see each other and say, "Have a Goo day."
Q. Why are you suing Google?
A. "We're trying to protect and defend our trademark. Googles was copyrighted and trademarked years before [the Google founders] got to Stanford."
Q. Have you heard from Google?
A. "When they first came out, they were notified immediately [of the similar trademarks]. The fellow who wrote the book and created the Google universe contacted him, and they ignored him. They don't respond at all. When we took it over and started it, it was the same. We haven't heard a peep."
Q. What would you like Google to do?
A. "We just want them to sit down and talk with us so we could resolve this. They say they want to make the world a better place. Well, we're a kids company that wants to keep children safe. We could work together and say, 'Googles -- the S is for safety.'"
Q. Are there lawyers on the planet Goo?
A. "That's a great question! You know something? No one has ever asked me that. Let me ask my wife. (Muffled voices, laughter.) She said she thinks there's a large island where they spend most of their time. They're called Gootourneys."
Q. What do you suppose the Gootourneys would do on the planet Goo to someone who steals a name?
A. "That's one of the fundamental differences on Goo. Their people don't steal. So I'm guessing that's a part of Gootian law that doesn't exist."
Q. Sort of like the anthropological discovery of primitive tribes that have no words for stealing or disobedience because those behaviors don't exist?
A. "Exactly."
Q. What's the last thing you Googled?
A. "I can't remember. Before you called, I was searching on Yahoo! I'm heading out on a fly-fishing expedition for the weekend with my wife. We were looking for a location in Pennsylvania."