News Papers Article

Click to read article Internet search trick raises legal question

• What is the main issue of this article?

The main issue of this article is that google is profiting from each company that is been charge by the number of people who search a particular keyword. Firms and companies are using keywords that are most popular for viewer to search even though it may not be owned by that particular company?

• Do you think it's a good strategy to buy the keyword of your rival's trademark?

I personally do not see anything wrong with buying a keyword of my rival company because i will be the one to benefit from the increase of sales, products or services, i also see it as business i am paying for the keyword an I am making a profit from getting more business because of my decision to purchase the keyword of my rival.

• Do you think it is fair to use your rival trade mark as your google search keyword?

I think it’s fair to use my rivals trademark as my google search keyword because it’s a business google is providing by selling the keyword search and am only paying google for service rendered, another reason why I don't have a problem with such action is because it’s not permanent and its legal to do such.

• As a regular customer, what do you feel if you want to search company A on google, and get company B as your top search result?

I would be in very inquisitive if I was searching for company A and get company B, I will then continue my search to compare prices an products and may even purchase my item from company B if it’s a better deal.

• If both company A and company B are selling similar products/services, will you click on the top result company B anyway? Even originally you were searching for company A?

I will click on company B out of curiosity just to see what they have and to find out what makes them pop up first, even though I initially wanted something from company A if when I search company B I get a better deal I will continue with company B and make my purchase.

• If you are a business owner of company A, what do you feel when somebody using your trade mark as a keyword o google search?

As a business owner of company A I will feel like a VIP if someone is using my trademark as a google search keyword because they find it so beneficial to pay to use it, it most mean that I am doing well and they would like to be in my position.

• From the newspaper, are there any clear rules to address this issue?

From the newspaper article there are no clear rules to address such issue.

• If you are a business owner, will you try to bid your rival's trademark as your google search kaywords? How much you may want to pay for it?

If I was a business owner and my competitor is doing better than me I will try and bid on their trademark as my google search and will be willing to pay between 1cent to 1.5 per hit.

• If business owners are trying to complete this way, will this cause a big confusion when internet audiances are trying to search something on google?

If this continues and get very rampant it will cause big confusion in the future by the audience who will get confused and angry at times when they are searching a particular keyword and are getting something different.

• Do you have any suggestion about this issue?

To solve this issue there should be a law in place to prevent such actions from taking place if the business owners have an issue with it.