Google Remove Restrictions on Trademark Keyword Bidding

Google appear to have liberalised their policy on bidding for trademarked keywords. Where previously trademark owners could block advertisers from bidding on their trademarks in certain countries, Google has announced in a recent post about its policy that it will “no longer restrict advertisers from bidding against trademark keywords, worldwide.”

Countries affected include Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan where Adwords rules will now fall into line with the rest of the world.

Google insist, however, that whilst they will not prevent the use of trademarks as keywords in these countries, rules restricting the use of trademark terms in ad copy remain in place and trademark owners will still be able to make a complaint about the use of their keywords in this respect.