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Keep Your Trademarks On Your Radar...
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by Andrea Albl
Director of Web Services
Gardner Publications, Inc.
Google announced recently that it will open up trademarked keywords in approximately 200 countries for auction as part of its AdWords program beginning June 4, 2009. Though controversy surrounds the decision claiming trademark infringement, Google appears confident it is on solid ground.
Within a couple days of Google’s policy change announcement, a Texas software company has filed a class action law suit against the company on behalf of all trademark owners in the state of Texas.
Shortly thereafter , a second class action law suit was filed by California investment guru John Beck that seeks to represent trademark owners nationwide.
The impact of the new policy will spur ad revenue growth for Google’s AdWords program by driving up prices for existing keywords and possibly beginning a competitive frenzy for new keywords.
In practice, if a competitor purchases a trademarked keyword, its brand name may display in its ad in the “sponsored search” sections of Google search results that reside next to the competitors organic results.
There is certainly more to come on Google’s announcement, however, it looks like monitoring your company’s brand names and trademarks and your competitors with Google is something to put on your radar soon.
Need more information?
Director of Web Services
Gardner Publications, Inc.
800-513-527-8800