Google（Google Inc.，NASDAQ：GOOG）是一(yi)(yi)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日以私(si)有股份公(gong)(gong)司(si)的(de)(de)(de)形(xing)式(shi)(shi)創(chuang)立，以設計并管理(li)一(yi)(yi)個互聯網搜(sou)(sou)索引擎。Google公(gong)(gong)司(si)的(de)(de)(de)總部稱(cheng)作“Googleplex”，它(ta)位于加(jia)利福尼亞山景城。Google 創(chuang)始(shi)人(ren) Larry Page 和(he) Sergey Brin 在斯坦福大學的(de)(de)(de)學生宿舍內(nei)共同開發(fa)了(le)全(quan)新的(de)(de)(de)在線(xian)搜(sou)(sou)索引擎，然(ran)后迅(xun)速傳播(bo)給全(quan)球的(de)(de)(de)信息搜(sou)(sou)索者。Google 目(mu)前被(bei)公(gong)(gong)認為是全(quan)球規(gui)模最大的(de)(de)(de)搜(sou)(sou)索引擎，它(ta)提供了(le)簡單易用的(de)(de)(de)免(mian)費服(fu)務。不作惡（Don't be evil）是谷歌公(gong)(gong)司(si)的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)項(xiang)非正式(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)司(si)口號，最早(zao)是由Gmail服(fu)務創(chuang)始(shi)人(ren)在一(yi)(yi)次會議中(zhong)提出。

2006年(nian)4月(yue)(yue)12日(ri)，Google公司(si)行政(zheng)總裁(cai)埃(ai)里克(ke)·施密特在北(bei)(bei)(bei)京(jing)宣布該(gai)公司(si)的(de)(de)全球中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文名(ming)字為“谷(gu)歌(ge)”（有(you)報(bao)道指出(chu)取義“豐收(shou)之歌(ge)”，不過亦有(you)報(bao)道指出(chu)取義“山谷(gu)之歌(ge)”）。同時，Google公司(si)于2006年(nian)2月(yue)(yue)15日(ri)在臺灣地區(qu)登記之分(fen)(fen)公司(si)取名(ming)為“美商(shang)科(ke)高國(guo)(guo)際有(you)限公司(si)”。此前，在一份中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)際經(jing)濟(ji)貿易仲裁(cai)委(wei)員會域名(ming)爭議(yi)解決中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心裁(cai)決書(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，公司(si)被稱為“科(ke)高公司(si)”。該(gai)公司(si)亦擁有(you)“谷(gu)歌(ge).cn”、“谷(gu)歌(ge).中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)”、“咕果(guo).com”（但不擁有(you)“咕果(guo).中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)”及(ji)“咕果(guo).公司(si)”）等中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文域名(ming)。盡管中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文用戶在除(chu)其(qi)(qi)英(ying)文名(ming)外更常稱Google為“古狗(gou)(gou)”或(huo)“狗(gou)(gou)狗(gou)(gou)”，其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文域名(ming)“古狗(gou)(gou).com”、“古狗(gou)(gou).cn”、“古狗(gou)(gou).中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)”等均已被其(qi)(qi)他公司(si)搶注。此外，Google在北(bei)(bei)(bei)京(jing)的(de)(de)分(fen)(fen)公司(si)曾使用“咕果(guo)”作(zuo)為合約簽訂以(yi)及(ji)網(wang)(wang)絡招聘的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文譯名(ming)。北(bei)(bei)(bei)京(jing)時間（UTC+8)2006年(nian)4月(yue)(yue)17日(ri)凌晨(chen)1時左(zuo)右，Google 簡(jian)體中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文網(wang)(wang)站正(zheng)式出(chu)現“谷(gu)歌(ge)”字樣（其(qi)(qi)他地區(qu)依(yi)舊(jiu)僅顯示“Google”）。

Google中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)對(dui)(dui)“谷(gu)歌(ge)”的(de)(de)解釋是“播種(zhong)與(yu)(yu)期待之歌(ge)，亦是收獲與(yu)(yu)歡(huan)愉之歌(ge)”，并稱此名(ming)(ming)稱是經Google中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)的(de)(de)全體員(yuan)工投票(piao)選(xuan)出。“谷(gu)歌(ge)”發布不(bu)久，即遭到很(hen)多用(yong)戶(hu)的(de)(de)批評。隨(sui)后(hou)，部(bu)分(fen)中(zhong)(zhong)文用(yong)戶(hu)發起反對(dui)(dui)“谷(gu)歌(ge)”的(de)(de)網上(shang)簽(qian)名(ming)(ming)活(huo)動(dong)。但Google中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)堅(jian)持使用(yong)“谷(gu)歌(ge)”作為(wei)正式名(ming)(ming)稱，但在實(shi)際中(zhong)(zhong)仍然存在“谷(gu)歌(ge)”、“Google中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)”混用(yong)的(de)(de)現(xian)象。