Adwords - Someone piggy backing our name

[bigmouk]

If you search for our company name there were no sponsored links, but now there is one from one of our competitors ... obviously entered it in their phrase terms.

Is this legal ? Is there anything we can do about it ?

I dont want to get involved in the doing the same thing as I think its a ***** trick!!

 

[Track'd]

Pretty much sums up your story - http://www.searchengineforums.com/ppc/1194011889/

As article says, there isn't much you can do, it's advertising and marketing at the end of the day. What does their slogan say in the Adwords ad?

 

[bigmouk]

Think your right mate, think I'm going to email them. Tell them to sort it out or I'll add their name into my keywords, simple as.

Its frustrating because we have been working hard to market the business, and then for someone to potentially 'steal' an order from under your nose is a bit of joke.

 

[Track'd]

I've seen it quite often in the past with companies going through insolvency/bankruptcy...Competitors hear about it, they add the phrase on adwords, then try and catch new clients. To do it as upfront as yours however isn't right, but is business.

 

[Adams_16v]

Probably not the best or cheapest solutions, but if you trademark your name, then submit the trademarked name to Google. Then only you and people you give permission to can use it.

But alternatively send them a polite email asking them to remove it from their keywords, and that you give them 48 hours before they receive a letter from your solicitor.

 

[Alex H]

If I was selling a high demand product online cheaper than a rival company, I'd want potential customers to know about it!

 

[m0rk]

But alternatively send them a polite email asking them to remove it from their keywords, and that you give them 48 hours before they receive a letter from your solicitor.

Waste of a solicitors letter IMO

Click hell out of the link, caining their adsense budget

 

[El Marko]

Waste of a solicitors letter IMO

Click hell out of the link, caining their adsense budget

This.

 

[DrR]

Post up the link, I'll click it a few times.

 

[PinkoCommie]

He's something of possible interest.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8582404.stm

Louis Vitton sued Google over the practice of selling Adwords to the higest bidder. Court rules

"Google has not infringed trademark law by allowing advertisers to purchase keywords corresponding to their competitors' trademarks,"

 

[Rob]

Post the link up, we'll all click the crap out of it for you.

 

[furry_cup]

havent google just rcently made this legal to do now? using other peoples company names as keywords?