They probably copyrighted the name.
You mean trademark. And they did trademark "e-gold" but afaics not "egold".
Trademarks are protected by use which is too similar and could cause confusion. But afaik, e-gold is shutdown and thus there is no confusion or harm that can come to users or principals of e-gold from the use "egold".
Also the registered trademark may not be global.
Also we don't know if the owners of the trademark are non-negotiable.
Apparently he is still in charge and still interested in seeing the name used for electronic money.
http://blog.e-gold.com/posts_by_douglas_jackson/
http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/news/2014/Over56.6MillionForfeitedInE-GoldAccountsInvolvedInCriminalOffenses.html
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-11-29/e-gold-founder-launches-new-gold-backed-currency
http://www.cnet.com/news/judge-spares-e-gold-directors-jail-time/
He apparently hasn't shut down this use of the name:
http://www.egold.net.au/
