The US Patent and Trademark Office has denied Google’s application for its “Nexus One” trademark. Several media sources say that “a likelihood of confusion” with a trademark held Portland, Ore.-based Integra Telecom Inc.

Google’s shares have dropped since midday when it was at $572 down to $566 at 3 PM.

It is hard to imagine what will happen to the “Nexus One’ if it has to rebrand itself. It would be as if Apple had to rename the iPhone within a month of two of its launch.

Douglas A. McIntyre