Bad ethics from other advertisers

[richiwatts]

Is this allowed? If I search my company name in Google there is a sponsored ad just above us saying:

Not happy?
Competitor name – Better service, quicker server and faster deliver?

My blood is boiling just now as you can understand. I have taken screen shots. I found out by another competitor phoning me about it as he gets the same.

Rich

[DamonHD]

In the UK this comparative advertising which is essentially just an 'ad hominem' attack on the competitor's brand is frowned upon and may be partly illegal. IANAL, but I do remember the bad blood over the 'Less Bover than a Hover' lawnmower ads from years back.

It strikes me in any case that you might have a simple case for libel-like damages from the advertiser. They've set out to harm you (for their gain), and unless they can prove their allegations it seems to me that G might want to avoid being part of the libellous action and you might get some damages.

Rgds

Damon

[shorebreak]

But the competitor's CEO's name as a keyword and say:

[CEO's name] Cheats
He must be jealous or desperate
To leach off my brand
[URL of blog article explaining what he's done]

I've done this on several occasions and it's always worked for me. It helps to let him know you're doing it, too, so he knows you mean business.

-Shorebreak

[narsticle]

But the competitor's CEO's name as a keyword and say:

[CEO's name] Cheats
He must be jealous or desperate
To leach off my brand
[URL of blog article explaining what he's done]

I've done this on several occasions and it's always worked for me. It helps to let him know you're doing it, too, so he knows you mean business.

Ha, I love it.

[Shak]

shorebreak has a nice way of doing it indeed ;)

however, why not the following:

a, how much traffic or impressions are there for your brand/company name
b, put a TM block so he cant bid on it
c, move on to bigger and better things

sometimes worrying about this kinda stuff can distract from the real business goal.

and above all, make sure if you are gonna sue, that there arent many dissatisfied customers of yours out there talking on forums and blog about it

shak

[richiwatts]

Thanks for all your replies. I would do what shorebreak said but wouldn't I be just dropping down to this company's level.

Also, I am not the only one he has done this to. There are 3-4 companies. I only found out as one of them contacted me today.

How do I block people bidding on our company name?

[cline]

Blocking depends on the geo-location of the advertising, as laws vary.

My suggestion is have your lawyer send a cease & desist.

[DamonHD]

See how AdWords support can help you in the meantime.

As I say, they may suspend third-party use of your ("the disputed") trademark while they investigate at the very least.

Rgds

Damon

[edited by: DamonHD at 9:16 pm (utc) on Mar. 23, 2007]

[BriGuy20]

I think the best thing you can do is give a customer experience that's good enough that they won't want to go to the competitor.

If you're the one they're benchmarking against, you're probably doing a good job... I'd guess #1 in your field. Kinda like how every competing car company compares itself against Toyota now (and Ford/GM in the past).

[karamkshetra]

That happened with one of my client too... but we just complaint to Google... if it is the brand name and registered no one can use it....

If still someone use it... get an AdWords account and just bid on brand related keywords.

:D