Member Avatar for Dani

I was creating an AdWords ad for our SEO forum and I tried using:

SEO Forum
Google News and Techniques
Free Webmaster Community

and it came back with an error message saying: You may not use the word "Google" in the text of your ad.

Heh :)

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by seobook

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This thread is a classic example of Google’s trademark enforcement in action. When and others tried to reference Google in ad copy, the Ads system blocked that creative under trademark-review rules. Google reviews trademark-owner complaints and may disallow a third party’s use of a trademark in the ad text while leaving keyword bidding alone. ()

The practical details that matter today: Google generally does not restrict trademarks as keywords or in most display-URL paths, but it does review and may restrict trademark usage inside ad headlines or descriptions—especially when the ad could mislead users or comes from a direct competitor. Resellers and informational sites can sometimes use a trademark in ad text if the ad’s landing page is primarily dedicated to selling or clearly providing information about the branded goods/services. Trademark owners can submit complaints and Google will review and potentially restrict offending ads; advertisers can then appeal. ()

For someone trying to promote an SEO/webmaster forum about Google, two pragmatic options work best: 1) reword the ad to avoid the trademark (for example, use “search‑engine news,” “webmaster community,” or “SEO news & techniques”); or 2) ensure the landing page clearly qualifies as an informational resource dedicated to the brand’s products/services so it fits Google’s informational-site criteria, then submit any necessary authorization/appeal if an ad is disapproved. If you plan to show Google’s name on your site, follow Google’s own brand-use rules (use the mark as an adjective, don’t imply endorsement, etc.). ()

Policies have shifted over time (Google relaxed some restrictions around reseller/informational exceptions in later years), so rely on the current Google Ads trademark help page and the Google Brand Resource Center for an authoritative answer before you re-submit ads. If an ad is still blocked, use the Ads account notifications and the trademark troubleshooter/appeal process described in Google’s help. (wired.com)

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All 11 Replies

Member Avatar for Vinoth

I was creating an AdWords ad for our SEO forum and I tried using:

SEO Forum
Google News and Techniques
Free Webmaster Community

and it came back with an error message saying: You may not use the word "Google" in the text of your ad.

Heh :)

Yes Gal it is correct google does not allow to use their word as a key.

What google did is correct!

Member Avatar for carterman

I guess it makes sense---they do what they wish--the big G that is.

Member Avatar for hysteriaweb

I guess people have been trying to abuse the network by using the google name.

Member Avatar for Dani

What I find amusing is that if you do a Google search for the keyword: overture, A whole bunch of Overture AdWords listings appear - it looks like Overture actually buys Google listings ;)

Member Avatar for Vinay

What I find amusing is that if you do a Google search for the keyword: overture, A whole bunch of Overture AdWords listings appear - it looks like Overture actually buys Google listings ;)

Yea ! Good Find Gal !

Member Avatar for jwenting

many companies buy Gooooooogle listings. Do any search and the first several pages of results will typically be paid for.

Member Avatar for Dani

Google doesn't sell their results no matter how much you're willing to pay? What they do is let you buy the text ads that appear in the right column of the search result pages. Overture, on the other hand, integrates paid results with free results.

Member Avatar for kall

Ahh, but it looks like you *can* use Google in the Top part of the ad.

google.jpg 33.64 KB
Member Avatar for Dani

Since that ad advertises the Google AdWords program, it's probably a safe bet to say that Google put that ad there themselves! ;)

Member Avatar for seobook

those were probably overture affiliate ads you saw for overture.

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