Google（Google Inc.，NASDAQ：GOOG）是(shi)一(yi)家美國上市公司(si)(si)（公有股份公司(si)(si)），于1998年9月7日以(yi)私有股份公司(si)(si)的形式創立，以(yi)設計并管(guan)理一(yi)個(ge)互聯網搜(sou)(sou)索引擎(qing)(qing)。Google公司(si)(si)的總部稱作“Googleplex”，它(ta)位于加利福(fu)尼(ni)亞山景城。Google 創始(shi)人 Larry Page 和 Sergey Brin 在斯坦福(fu)大(da)學(xue)的學(xue)生宿舍內共(gong)同開(kai)發了全新的在線搜(sou)(sou)索引擎(qing)(qing)，然(ran)后迅(xun)速傳播(bo)給全球(qiu)(qiu)的信(xin)息搜(sou)(sou)索者。Google 目前被公認為(wei)是(shi)全球(qiu)(qiu)規模最(zui)大(da)的搜(sou)(sou)索引擎(qing)(qing)，它(ta)提供了簡單易用(yong)的免費服務。不作惡（Don't be evil）是(shi)谷歌公司(si)(si)的一(yi)項非正式的公司(si)(si)口(kou)號，最(zui)早是(shi)由(you)Gmail服務創始(shi)人在一(yi)次會議中提出。

2006年4月12日(ri)，Google公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)行政總裁(cai)埃里克·施(shi)密特在(zai)北京(jing)宣布該公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)的全球中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)名(ming)(ming)(ming)字(zi)為“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”（有報(bao)道(dao)指出取(qu)義“豐(feng)收之(zhi)歌(ge)(ge)”，不(bu)過(guo)亦有報(bao)道(dao)指出取(qu)義“山谷(gu)之(zhi)歌(ge)(ge)”）。同(tong)時，Google公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)于2006年2月15日(ri)在(zai)臺灣地區登(deng)記之(zhi)分公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)取(qu)名(ming)(ming)(ming)為“美(mei)商科高國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)際(ji)有限公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)”。此(ci)(ci)前，在(zai)一份中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)際(ji)經濟貿易仲裁(cai)委員(yuan)會域名(ming)(ming)(ming)爭(zheng)議解決中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)心裁(cai)決書中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)被稱為“科高公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)”。該公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)亦擁有“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge).cn”、“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge).中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)”、“咕(gu)果(guo).com”（但不(bu)擁有“咕(gu)果(guo).中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)”及(ji)“咕(gu)果(guo).公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)”）等中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)域名(ming)(ming)(ming)。盡管中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)用戶在(zai)除其英文(wen)名(ming)(ming)(ming)外(wai)更常(chang)稱Google為“古狗(gou)”或“狗(gou)狗(gou)”，其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)域名(ming)(ming)(ming)“古狗(gou).com”、“古狗(gou).cn”、“古狗(gou).中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)”等均已被其他公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)搶注。此(ci)(ci)外(wai)，Google在(zai)北京(jing)的分公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)司(si)曾使用“咕(gu)果(guo)”作為合約簽(qian)訂以及(ji)網絡招聘的中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)譯(yi)名(ming)(ming)(ming)。北京(jing)時間（UTC+8)2006年4月17日(ri)凌(ling)晨1時左右，Google 簡體中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)文(wen)網站正式出現“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”字(zi)樣（其他地區依舊僅顯示“Google”）。

Google中國對“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”的(de)(de)解釋是(shi)“播種與(yu)期待之(zhi)歌(ge)(ge)，亦是(shi)收獲與(yu)歡(huan)愉之(zhi)歌(ge)(ge)”，并稱(cheng)此(ci)名(ming)稱(cheng)是(shi)經(jing)Google中國的(de)(de)全體(ti)員(yuan)工投票選出。“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”發布不(bu)久，即遭(zao)到(dao)很多用戶的(de)(de)批(pi)評(ping)。隨后，部分中文用戶發起(qi)反對“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”的(de)(de)網(wang)上簽名(ming)活動。但Google中國堅(jian)持使用“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”作為正式名(ming)稱(cheng)，但在(zai)實際中仍然(ran)存在(zai)“谷(gu)歌(ge)(ge)”、“Google中國”混用的(de)(de)現象。