Is this ad compliant with TOS?

www.stop-companyname-fraud.com

[djingo]

There's a company that owes me and a lot of vendors money but refuses to pay.

Is it compliant with TOS to advertise (AdWords) for a page: www.stop-companyname-fraud.com that is a forum that contains testimonies from vendors that have been cheated.

We are not talking what you might call "an irrational hate page" - The site is simply a forum where vendors that have been cheated can tell their stories and issues with the company. Also informing the world / future vendors about what they beleive the risks are doing business with this company.

Obviously this page puts some kind of pressiure on the company to pay because who wants such an ad to pop up everytime someone googles your company name.

But is it compliant with TOS?

[cmarshall]

I can't say for TOS (probably yes, but that is not my call).

I'm not sure I'd particularly like it on this forum, however, regardless of how worthy and relevant it is.

The one thing that really impresses me about WebmasterWorld is how they have a really decent "gestalt." People are really pretty decent to each other here, even though they may be screaming competitors in RL. The basic mood of this site is very positive. As I wandered over here from a political blog that was basically a poo-flinging contest, I find it refreshing.

Something like that would definitely darken the mood. It would probably also make WebmasterWorld vulnerable to legal actions that, even without merit, could cause damage.

However, I can sympathize with you. I think setting up the site is probably the correct thing to do (but you may be asking for trouble). I would just prefer it myself if it were not advertised here.

Just my $0.02.

[jimbeetle]

You'd have to cover yourself pretty thoroughly in a situation like this. Be sure to ask the folks at AdSense, don't rely on any forum reply, after all, the only thing we can do is read the terms and give you our own interpretation. (By the way, what is your interpretation of the terms concerning this situation?)

Also, even if the AdSense folks say its okay to run the ads, you'd best consult with an attorney beforehand else you might find yourself a bit overexposed.

[djingo]

Well, if you look at [adwords.google.com...] it says noting about pages that are "critical to firms". Neither does [adwords.google.com...]

So I really cant find anything in the TOS that says anything against this.

Anyway I will keep this a sober well augmented critique. Believe me I dont think this is fun. But I dont feel I have a choice. If I dont take the initiative to put an end to this lots of others will get cheated (and I of course will not get my money). They are not stupid - they probably already has calculated/predicted the risk that this might happen someday - and they will pay us off to get this thing closed.

[cmarshall]

Duh. Reading comprehension. I've heard of it.

I was thinking in terms of WebmasterWorld TOS. I don't have enough experience with AdSense to offer any help there, but it looks like you've gotten some good feedback.

[djingo]

Why exactly should my post be against WebmasterWorld TOS?

[cmarshall]

Why exactly should my post be against WebmasterWorld TOS?

It wouldn't be. That was what my mea culpa was about. It would be if you bandied about the URI of the site in question, but that wasn't the question. My mistake and my apologies.