Targeting Competitors Brand Name

Can it be done ethically

[Jack_Frost]

I often run across potential clients who say that they want to target their competitors brand names. I always tell them that this basically constitutes a copyright violation, but that if they want to do it, we can create a page that compares their product to their competitor's.

Typically saying this is enough to get people to back off. However, I now have a potential client that says he wants to do it. He believes his product is much better than the competitor's and he has no problem comparing it with theirs. In fact, this is precisely what he wants to do.

Seems perfectly legal and ethical to me. The brand name is so specific and very "uncompetitive" so I am pretty sure we'll get top 5 rankings if we just build the page with standard SEO practices.

Any comments? Any experience with this positively or negatively?

[mack]

I think comparing yourself to another brand is acceptable but targeting yourself using another comapnies brand may well be in breach of copyright law. It all depends on , is their brand name a registered trade mark? If yes then I would proceed with caution.

I woudl also make sure your client knows that you are not liable for any action the other copmpany takes agains your client.

[buckworks]

Just a thought ... keep things positive, positive, positive. Don't do the comparison by saying "here's why they're bad and here's why we're good" ... take the approach "here's why they're good and here's why we're better".

It will make a better impression for your users, and also be less likely to trigger legal problems or something.