Google made an announcement recently that they will be changing their policy with regards to trademarked keywords bidding. Beginning 4th June 2009, Google will no longer monitor or restrict previously trademarked keywords for ads served to users in South Africa.

Up until now trademark owners could enjoy a monopoly on trademark terms in South Africa by asking Google not to let any other party target its trademarks as keywords. The new bidding policy will impact the costs and strategies of advertising a trademarked brand through Google's AdWords program. 

For some brands this may result in significant increases in costs. What this effectively means, is on previously trademarked brand keyword terms, there will now be an equal opportunity for all advertisers to bid on these terms. Brands, thereby, no longer have exclusivity on trademarked terms on Google.

Acceleration Media has developed an approach to counter these affects. To read more on this approach, download Acceleration Media’s strategy in combating these changes below. 

Acceleration_Media_Google_TradeMark_Policy_Changes_May 2009.pdf (264.52 kb)