On December 10, 2009, Google applied for a trademark on the Nexus One name, but it looks like they’ve been rejected:
The application was refused because of “likelihood of confusion” with an existing trademark of the word “Nexus”, which was registered by Integra Telecom, a telecommunication services company, in 2008.
Google’s intending to challenge this decision and will “continue to claim rights to the Nexus One trademark in the United States”. [Geek]
The Trademark Company
March 18, 2010 at 12:55 PMIt is a solid refusal but one which experienced counsel can get past. The “getting past” may include purchasing a consent agreement from the prior registered mark or simply purchasing the blocking mark outright. However, it is doubtful that cost would exceed the price of re-branding their new device.