Google（Google Inc.，NASDAQ：GOOG）是一家美國上(shang)市公(gong)(gong)司(si)（公(gong)(gong)有股份公(gong)(gong)司(si)），于1998年9月7日以(yi)私有股份公(gong)(gong)司(si)的(de)(de)(de)形(xing)式創(chuang)立，以(yi)設計并管理(li)一個互聯網(wang)搜(sou)索(suo)引擎。Google公(gong)(gong)司(si)的(de)(de)(de)總部(bu)稱作“Googleplex”，它位于加利福(fu)尼亞山景(jing)城。Google 創(chuang)始人 Larry Page 和 Sergey Brin 在(zai)斯坦福(fu)大學的(de)(de)(de)學生宿舍內共同(tong)開(kai)發(fa)了全新的(de)(de)(de)在(zai)線搜(sou)索(suo)引擎，然后(hou)迅(xun)速傳(chuan)播給(gei)全球的(de)(de)(de)信息搜(sou)索(suo)者。Google 目前被公(gong)(gong)認為(wei)是全球規(gui)模最(zui)大的(de)(de)(de)搜(sou)索(suo)引擎，它提供了簡(jian)單(dan)易用的(de)(de)(de)免費服務(wu)。不作惡（Don't be evil）是谷歌公(gong)(gong)司(si)的(de)(de)(de)一項非正式的(de)(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)司(si)口號，最(zui)早(zao)是由(you)Gmail服務(wu)創(chuang)始人在(zai)一次(ci)會議中提出。

2006年4月(yue)12日，Google公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)行(xing)政總裁(cai)埃里克·施密特在(zai)北(bei)京(jing)宣布該公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)的全(quan)球(qiu)中(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)名字為(wei)(wei)“谷(gu)歌”（有(you)報道指出取(qu)義(yi)“豐收之歌”，不過亦有(you)報道指出取(qu)義(yi)“山谷(gu)之歌”）。同時(shi)，Google公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)于2006年2月(yue)15日在(zai)臺(tai)灣(wan)地(di)區登記之分公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)取(qu)名為(wei)(wei)“美商(shang)科高(gao)國(guo)際有(you)限(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)”。此(ci)前，在(zai)一份中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)國(guo)際經濟(ji)貿易仲裁(cai)委(wei)員會域名爭(zheng)議(yi)解決中(zhong)(zhong)心裁(cai)決書(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)，公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)被(bei)稱為(wei)(wei)“科高(gao)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)”。該公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)亦擁(yong)有(you)“谷(gu)歌.cn”、“谷(gu)歌.中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)”、“咕(gu)(gu)(gu)果.com”（但(dan)不擁(yong)有(you)“咕(gu)(gu)(gu)果.中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)”及“咕(gu)(gu)(gu)果.公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)”）等中(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)域名。盡管中(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)用(yong)戶在(zai)除其英文(wen)名外更常(chang)稱Google為(wei)(wei)“古狗(gou)”或(huo)“狗(gou)狗(gou)”，其中(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)域名“古狗(gou).com”、“古狗(gou).cn”、“古狗(gou).中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)”等均已被(bei)其他公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)搶注(zhu)。此(ci)外，Google在(zai)北(bei)京(jing)的分公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)(si)(si)(si)曾使用(yong)“咕(gu)(gu)(gu)果”作為(wei)(wei)合約簽(qian)訂以及網(wang)絡招聘的中(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)譯名。北(bei)京(jing)時(shi)間（UTC+8)2006年4月(yue)17日凌晨(chen)1時(shi)左右，Google 簡體(ti)中(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)網(wang)站正式(shi)出現(xian)“谷(gu)歌”字樣（其他地(di)區依舊僅顯示“Google”）。

Google中國(guo)對“谷(gu)歌(ge)”的解釋是(shi)“播(bo)種與期待之(zhi)歌(ge)，亦(yi)是(shi)收獲與歡(huan)愉(yu)之(zhi)歌(ge)”，并稱此(ci)名(ming)稱是(shi)經Google中國(guo)的全體員工投票(piao)選出。“谷(gu)歌(ge)”發布(bu)不久，即遭到很多用(yong)戶的批(pi)評(ping)。隨后，部分中文用(yong)戶發起(qi)反對“谷(gu)歌(ge)”的網上簽名(ming)活動。但Google中國(guo)堅持使用(yong)“谷(gu)歌(ge)”作為正式(shi)名(ming)稱，但在實際中仍然存在“谷(gu)歌(ge)”、“Google中國(guo)”混用(yong)的現象。