The Adwords Trademark Issue.

I run a review site that lists 5 companies. one of my top 3 companies I bid on the keyword. I receive a complaint from them through google and say I am using there trademark. despite making them a couple of says, I believe google says you can bid on any keyword, but you can't put there copyright name in the ad text.

Now what exactly can you do, and not do?

For example if the company name is Blue Widgets, and you put "Blue any good?" is this ok?

What if you domain was bluewidgetreviewer.com.?

Is this only Canada and US? or all countries.

Those are my questions, thank.
Hopefully some of you know about this stuff, or even had experience with it.

John

 

In the US & Canada Google will allow you to bid on TM terms but you can't use them in the ad copy.

 

we've dont this a couple times with our competitors and we've gotta quite a few angry responses. doubt you can use the name in the ad itself, but request from google their policy on TMs and maybe you can find a loophole.

 

More info on AdWords & TMs:

http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=6118

 

Actually, As I understand it google will allow it, till anyone complains about.

What I would really like to know if I could use part of the name in it.
Example: Burger King

My Ad title:
Try My Burger Joint Out.


Thanks for the reply
& GO Bears!

 

I would assume that ad woudl be ok. Create it and see what happens. Worst thing they (AdWords) will do is reject the ad.

Go Bears X 2!

 

If you are only using part of a TMed name, then you arn't actually using the TMed name, right? In the above instance, you would be perfectly fine. A burger is a burger and none is the wiser until you say "King" immediately after.

 

I have tried smart advertising for example
Compare our prices against (company name)
we have cheap prices and cheaper freight
you may be suprised.

The competetors get angry yes as you naturally would but as far as i am aware this is legal you also see companies asdvertising like this on television also ... especially battery companies bagging out the competition and comparing their better product to the competetors.. I cant see why it would be any different in the online world

 

Google has the right to make whatever policies they want. Neither MSN nor Yahoo allow you to use competitors trademarks in that manner either. It's great for trademark holders, because ads can be very deceptive otherwise.