Google Inc., is facing an obstacle in the world`s second largest Web market in the fight to consolidate its trademark globally – China`s www.Gmail.cn is refusing to sell its Internet address to the US giant.

News agencies were told by a legal source on Monday that Google was trying to buy the Internet Domain Name www.gmail.cn, which is run by Beijing-based ISM Technologies.The name resembles Google`s internationally known email service, www.gmail.com, with further similarities in the colors in which the two logos are written. The “.cn” suffix being commonly used for Chinese Domain Names.Google had recently began offering free Gmail accounts in China to promote its brand among local users.

"Google has contacted Gmail.cn about the Web address and logo issue, but there is no progress so far," said a legal source in Shanghai familiar with the situation.

ISM Technologies — which on its Web site www.ism.net.cn claims to be the largest wholesale Internet domain registrar accredited with Chinese government-backed Internet body CNNIC — refuses to sell, but there is as yet no sign that Google will sue, the source added. Google`s China spokeswoman Jin Cui did not answer repeated calls to her cellphone. A spokesperson for Gmail.cn could not be contacted by telephone calls to the company`s Beijing offices.