Google to allow UK trademark bidding
Google will allow UK advertisers to bid on trademarked keywords for the first time from 5 May 2008.
Critics suggest that this is just to drive more business for Google in falling PPC revenue.
From May 5, however, anyone can bid on a trademarked term such as "Dragonfly Teas" so a search for the Tea brand's name will bring up adverts from competitors who have also bid for that word.
Google have said that trademark owners can request that it protect their trademark by banning rival companies from using the trademarked name in the text of the sponsored advert.
As a result a rival company would not be allowed to place an advert along the lines of "Cheaper and tastier than Dragonfly Teas".
Critics suggest that this is just to drive more business for Google in falling PPC revenue.
From May 5, however, anyone can bid on a trademarked term such as "Dragonfly Teas" so a search for the Tea brand's name will bring up adverts from competitors who have also bid for that word.
Google have said that trademark owners can request that it protect their trademark by banning rival companies from using the trademarked name in the text of the sponsored advert.
As a result a rival company would not be allowed to place an advert along the lines of "Cheaper and tastier than Dragonfly Teas".
