Google issue, MUST READ

[Georgia Poker]

OK, Harrahs has now officially pissed me off. They have not only trademarked the WSOP and World Series of Poker franchise ( I have no problem with this) but now Google will NOT allow me to use the keyword WSOP or World Series of Poker to drive traffic to one of my sites. Keep in mind the following:

1. This is NOT a gambling site and conforms to their T&C's 100%
2. There are NO links to gambling sites anywhere on my site


This is what they say when I try to set up the ad campaign:

"Trademarked Term [?]
Due to trademark reasons, we do not allow advertisers to use 'world series of poker' in their Google AdWords ads. This term may be trademarked either for a certain product or service category and may apply only in certain countries. "

Here is my issue, let's say I'm an affiliate for IBM or Ebay or Pontiac. They have ZERO issue with my using their name as a search term on Google. I'm not trying to infringe on the WSOP trademark in any shape form or fashion. As a matter of fact, I'll be contributing to Harrahs bottom line because I'm actually BUYING licensed WSOP merchandise to give away on the site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to enter a dispute claim with Google and see what happens. I'm really pissed that they are being this overzealous over the WSOP name. I think it's gone too far IMO.

Has anyone here ever won or lost a dispute with google over a similiar issue?

Harrah's is basically trying to make it so no one can use any inference or verbage using the WSOP name. Last year I owned several premium WSOP daomian names that received tons of type-in traffic. Harrahs took those away from me via order from the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Then a few month later I had a site promoting WSOP qualifiers at Empire and their attorney told me that I was again in violation. They are getting borderline ridiculous with thier trademark. You would think they want us promoting the WSOP.


Here is some text I received from Harrah's attorney:

Jeremy:


With regard to EmpirePoker.com, PartyPoker.com, and other online gambling sites, they may run a WSOP satellite tournament only if they enter into a satellite tournament license with Harrah's. Harrah's does not license online gambling sites that accept funds from U.S. residents nor will it accept registration fees paid on behalf of a player from such sites. If you would like to inquire about licensed sites and use of the World Series of Poker marks, please contact Harrah's directly at Harrahsip@harrahs.com, and Harrah's will provide you with this information.

If a site, such as EmpirePoker.com or PartyPoker.com, is not licensed, you may not use the WSOP mark (or any of Harrah's other marks) to drive traffic to that site, and you may not reference that the site is operating a WSOP satellite tournament on your website or in emails, banners, badges, splash pages, or other content. For clarification, we are not saying that you cannot drive traffic to EmpirePoker.com, you just cannot use the WSOP mark or any of Harrah's other marks to do so, nor can you state or imply in any manner that Empire Poker is running a WSOP satellite tournament or affiliated or associated in any way with the WSOP or Harrah's.

If a site is licensed, you may use the WSOP or WORLD SERIES OF POKER word marks as necessary to promote or drive traffic to the site, but you may not use the WSOP logos or an image of the WSOP poker chip to do so.

I hope the foregoing helps add clarification to the situation for you. If you have any questions, or wish to discuss any of the foregoing further, please call me.

[Georgia Poker]

Can you PM his contact info? I'd like to work to get this issue clarified.

Thanks,

[JPNet]

I don't get it. According to that attorney, almost no poker site can hold WSOP satellites, because they all accept money from US residents. Yet almost every site is giving away WSOP seats every day.

Additionally, the last 3 winners of the WSOP would not have been allowed to play under these rules. And they will have to disqualify hundreds of players this year.

Can they be for real?

[Stephen]

Has anyone here ever won or lost a dispute with google over a similiar issue?

Back when I was advertising on Google freely, we had these issues with them often, and they would never back down (and I was spending about 2-300k per month with them).

Stephen

[CasinoMack]

Originally posted by Paradise@Jun 15 2005, 11:49 PM
2-300k per month with them.

Stephen

GULP :unsure:

[Georgia Poker]

Originally posted by Paradise@Jun 15 2005, 11:49 PM

Back when I was advertising on Google freely, we had these issues with them often, and they would never back down (and I was spending about 2-300k per month with them).

Stephen

Holy shit, I guess that answers my question. I'll have to take another approach