Q: What is being announced today?
Q: Why is Microsoft doing this?
Q: What countries are impacted by this change?
Q: How will you investigate the use of trademarked terms in ads?
Q: What is the process for a trademark owner to escalate trademark terms in ad text?
Q: What is being announced today?
A: Starting
on
March 3, Microsoft will modify its trademark policy pertaining to search advertising. It will continue to investigate complaints about trademarks in advertising text but will no longer investigate complaints about trademarks used as keywords.
Q: Why is Microsoft doing this?
A: This change brings Microsoft in line with industry standards. Advertisers have expressed that ease of use is important, and this policy change allows them to more easily port their online campaigns into adCenter.
The change will also provide users with greater choice when searching for paid results. A user typing in a keyword into the search box will now be presented with a wider choice of relevant ads in the sponsored links section.
Q: What countries are impacted by this change?
A: The U.S. and Canada currently.
Q: How will you investigate the use of trademarked terms in ads?
A: If a complaint is submitted about the use of a trademark in ad text, we will investigate the allegation as we do today. Please see the updated
Trademark Policy for details on submitting a trademark complaint related to ad text.
Q: What is the process for a trademark owner to escalate trademark terms in ad text?
A: Parties should check the Trademark Policy to ascertain whether the ad violates our policy. We encourage any party with a concern to address it directly with the advertiser in question and, if necessary, to utilize our complaint procedure.
