Question
It looks like eBay's request last year to block advertisers from using its trademark in sponsored search results (13 pages of terms related to its trademarks) is no longer going to be honored by Google. They've changed their policy regarding bidding on trademarks in their keyword advertising program.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Google plans trademark gambit
Last modified: April 13, 2004, 4:00 AM PDT
By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Google plans to stop limiting sales of trademarks in its popular keyword advertising program, a high-stakes gamble that could boost revenue but also create new legal problems for the company.
The Mountain View, Calif.-based search provider quietly notified customers in an e-mail message on Thursday of coming changes to its trademark complaint policy.
Sheryl Sandberg, Google's vice president of global online sales and operations, on Monday confirmed the changes. She said Google in the next two weeks will begin allowing U.S. and Canadian advertisers to bid on any keyword, including trademarked terms, sold as part of its sponsored listings service.
Previously, Google had granted requests from advertisers, including 1-800 Contacts and eBay, to bar competitors from bidding on their trademarked names. When the changes take effect later this month, Google will only review trademark complaints that relate to text appearing in sponsored listings on its Web site and those of its partners.
"By letting people restrict certain words, you're not getting the results that people expect from Google," Sandberg said, adding that Google plans to put up for auction trademarked terms that it had agreed to keep off limits in the past. Now "users will decide what's useful," she added. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Full article: http://news.com.com/2100-1038_3-5190...l?tag=nefd.pop
Blanche
Answer
So much for Vero...