Yahoo Alters Trademark Guidlines

After the whole Google/Geico fiasco, most people saw this coming. Look for google and MSN to follow suit rather quickly. No more buying up trademarked keywords and using them to sell unrelated stuff.

This is going to cost me a pretty penny. I've been using the keyword iPod to sell my homemade pot holders.

Here is the text from the Yahoo email:

We wanted to let you know of a policy change that will affect your account.

On March 1, 2006, Yahoo! Search Marketing will modify its editorial guidelines regarding the use of keywords containing trademarks. Previously, we allowed competitive advertising by allowing advertisers to bid on third-party trademarks if those advertisers offered detailed comparative information about the trademark owner's products or services in comparison to the competitive products and services that were offered or promoted on the advertiser's site.
In order to more easily deliver quality user experiences when users search on terms that are trademarks, Yahoo! Search Marketing has determined that we will no longer allow bidding on keywords containing competitor trademarks.

Our records indicate that you currently have one or more listings that were allowed under the competitive advertising guideline. On March 1, 2006, these listings will be removed from your account, and we will no longer accept listings containing search terms comprised of your competitors' trademarks.

For more information on our trademark policy, please visithttp://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/legal/trademarks.php.Please note that Condition #3 ("Competitive Comparison Site") will be removed when the policy is officially implemented on March 1, but advertiser listings that qualify under the reseller or non-competitor information guidelines may be allowed, subject to Yahoo!'s discretion to accept or reject listings. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact us...