Trademark and Keywords

[tomasz]

Hi,

Let say I have been contacted by one big company that I can not use keyword because it is trademarked . I have to say my business is similar to their but this keyword is very broad and it is used by several sites in my business.
There are maybe 1M listings in google with this keyword. I have disclaimer on my page that we are not part of big company but they still want me out.

What Can I do?

[ppg]

If it is a trademark, or a brand name, and not a generic keyword, then there's not a lot you can do from the sound of things:

[webmasterworld.com ]

[tomasz]

"and not a generic keyword"

Is "Auto Trader" generic keyword?

[Yidaki]

tomasz, Auto Trader [tess2.uspto.gov] is a registered Trademark.

[AWildman]

I would say that Auto Trader is not a generic keyword. To me, I think of that site and publication when that phrase is used. I think they'd have you dead-to-rights if you didn't change it, especially if it is used with the same capitalization and is part of the name of your online presence.

You might be able to get away with Auto Dealer or something like that. That is far more generic than Auto Trader. Heck we have to do some rewriting cause someone trademarked math solutions. You'd think THAT was pretty generic.

[colinirwin]

If Auto Trader is being disallowed as a keyphrase, try Trader Auto.

Not with "" or [], of course.

Col

[Ally_Cat]

Sounds like they've got you on that one. If you don't remove it, Google certainly will once they are forced to go that route.