I have a question for the more experienced PPCers out there. One problem I always have pause with is how to interpret the following: "4) Keywords, Pay Per Click advertising, and domain names involving GreenSmoke's trademark "GreenSmoke" and variations thereof. You shall not purchase search engine keywords or domain names that use GreenSmoke's trademark "GreenSmoke" and/or certain variations and mispellings thereof. You shall not purchase or register keywords, Pay Per Click advertising, AdWords, search terms, domain names, or other identifying terms that include the word "GreenSmoke" or certain variations and mispellings thereof for use in any search engine, portal, sponsored advertising service or other search or referral service." I see this type of boiler plate language a lot in various affiliate program's terms and conditions. For those more experienced, does this language mean that you cannot bid on keyword string phrases like "Greensmoke cigarettes" or "Buy Greensmoke" or does this just mean you can't bid on the exact words like "GreenSmoke" or "Green Smoke" only? FYI, in this specific case, the company also has a section where they say they don't allow keyword strings but I am curious how to interpret this in most cases where only the above language is used?
Google has always allowed you to use trademarked terms. What they may not allow is using those terms in the ads. A company can ask Google to not allow their terms to be used in ads, which is in effect what JD's example is all about. This merchant does not allow its affiliates to use its name or its products' name(s) in a PPC campaign. It does not allow affiliates to even bid on product names if it contains their name. Google will have no problems with this but the merchant could ban the affiliate as all they have to do is do some searches. They can do little if someone who's not an affiliate to bid on those terms. But they can do something about the terms in the ads themselves.
Also, it is important to comply with the affiliate program's rules or you risk them withholding payment to you for sales. Basically, it is more of: it's their house, their rules. However, what I can't tell for certain is whether this boiler plate language includes the keyword strings like Greensmoke cigarettes? I think it could be interpreted both ways which is why I am asking the question.
I am agreeing with this interpretation as well. I also think the language that mentions not using their domain may by itself remove the ability to do direct linking.