Several E-commerce sites all use same data base

E-commerce

[EAHunt]

We have a customer whose wholesalers rent space on his server with their own template site using the same database with same product id's and descriptions. The only difference in the sites is the overall esthetic look and feel. One is based on a wine colored theme throughout and one is a green theme. And so on. They all pay to have their store front customized to their logo look, but the product lines are all the same.

Our question is, will this be considered spamming?

[fathom]

Spamming may be the wrong word. Duplicate content may be more precise.

A general rule, at least 10% of the site should be unique to avoid a penalty from Google. In this case, if no linkage between the customer sites themselves I would believe no problem exists.

In addition, if each site shares a common database (meaning only one) I would tend to believe there is no problem at all.

[EAHunt]

Thank you so much. These sites will not be interlinked to each other because they are competitors.

There are pages that talk about and Identify each as an individual company.

[fathom]

Sound fine to me.

[Marcia]

EAHunt, I've asked a closely related question over here on just those type of sites with ODP submission guidelines:

[webmasterworld.com...]

You may want to check for the replies to that.