Reuters reports that Google has taken back the title of most influential world brand. It pipped Apple for the top spot in 2005, while eBay’s Skype made its debut at #3.

“Google Inc, the minimalist search engine which has expanded regionally and moved into new markets areas as its price comparison service Froogle, last topped the poll in 2003, and for 2005 reclaims its top slot from Apple Computer Inc, which came in second this year. The poll does not take account of economic brand value, the dark science of assigning a financial value to brands, which regularly puts Coca-Cola’s Coke in first place.”

So, it’s Google, Apple, Skype in that order. It seems having a simple brand ending in “e” does the trick every time. And if you make that “le”, even better.