Trademark Trigger Tantrums January 26th, 2006 2:56 pm

Despite going through the correct process with Google, faxing off details, and for the most part getting a superb service - one company still manages to get their adword adverts out using our trademark as a trigger. I’ve emailed them again today, but last time they ignored the email, so I expect nothing will happen other than G will remove the offending advert until the next time.

Mind, the offending company are due to be attending the next A4U meeting in Bristol, so at least we’ll have a chance to tell them that our site name is a trademark.

The trademark trigger argument (should it be allowed) is one that will probably never go away. My feeling though is we have a trademark, we’re allowed to prevent it being used as a trigger, we’ve followed the correct procedure and no one should be allowed to use it. Perhaps if G or another search engine offered the trademark holder a %age of revenue for clicks then that could appease some of the issues that exist.

On the other hand, a trademark does want to protect their brand, and not have any old charlie adhering themselves to it. Most certainly with our mark it is kind of distinctive and synonymous with what we do - so any use of it as a trigger is as I see it infringement.

In fairness the adword guys have been usually pretty quick and efficient in dealing with problems - I just wish that the “no triggers allowed” bit would stay constant. 

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