Philip K. Dick's heirs sue Google over the name of its new phone

 Does Google's Android dream of electric sheep?

The family of Philip K. Dick, the science fiction author behind the novella "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" which was adapted into the highly influential 1982 Ridley Scott film "Blade Runner," is suing Google over the name of its new phone, the Nexus One. The titular androids of Dick's story, you see, are the Tyrell Corporation's Nexus-Six models--and the family thinks the name Nexus One is a bit of a rip-off. Their case is supported, in part, but the fact that Google's highly publicized (and advertised!) new phone-based operating system is called "Android." Androids, Nexus One...you can see where they get the idea that Google's marketing team are fans of "Blade Runner."

Still, it seems a bit tenuous. Now, if they release an app called the Voigt-Kampff Mega-Pixel Camera, we'll know something's up.

EDIT: I should point out that not all of Philip K. Dick's family is involved in this. The suit was brought by Isa Dick Hackett, Dick's daughter from his fourth marriage.

"Family of Blade Runner author Philip K. Dick to sue Google over Nexus One phone" (Telegraph.co.uk)