Google Adwords and the new moral order
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It’s well known that Google Adwords has recently barred all ads for anything that might realistically be related to gambling - this includes tips, “play for free” games, newsletters etc.
I’ve discovered today that they also ban ads for platinum credit cards because “platinum” is apparently a registered trademark of American Express. No, I didn’t believe that either but I’ve checked and it is.
Now, there’s two things that piss me off here.
1) Platinum is used by pretty much every bank in the UK to refer to their premium credit card. It is a well known term in everyday use. I would say that this has diluted the term to the point at which it is no longer trademarkable. Obviously I don’t have the money to take Amex on in the courts but why should Google be Amex’s policeman? If they want to cease and desist me for using their trademark let that be Amex’s decision not Google’s
2) If you’re going to have a policy at least enforce it consistently. Search on Google any time you like for “platinum card” or “free bets” or “poker online” and you can be pretty much certain that infringing ads will be shown and more often than not it’s a large company that’s doing the advertising.
I know it’s Google’s system and I know they can accept or refuse whichever adverts they like but I’m getting pretty fed up of them imposing their own morality on me.
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