If you were to do a search on Google.com for google keyword tool, which is a pretty popular search term… I was pretty surprised to see two domain names that contain the trademarked word "google" and they rank in the top 5 for the search term!
GoogleKeywordTool.com ranks in the natural #3 position. IMO, the site "looks like" it would be owned by Google, but it is not. According to whois records, Chris Wilde owns the domain/site. He purchased the domain name after it expired according to the about page on the site.
Google is a registered trademark and IMO is very confusing to many page layouts that Google uses. There are no ads currently on the site, but Chris did state "Recently, after updating my Google Analytics account, a Google AdSense rep called me. She made the point that content-sensitive ads could help my visitors. She’s probably right. Maybe I’ll add a few Google Ads."
Although all the links on the site DO go to Google, I think by Google ranking the domain name very well, even though it contains Google’s trademark could make somebody think it is OK to cybersquat. Chris did state the site sometimes gets over 35K visitors a month and IMO is benefiting from the traffic in several ways, like promoting his film editing.
There is a very small disclaimer at the bottom of the site, which states the site is not affiliated with Google, but that won’t cut it in court.
If Chris is OK with it and Google is OK with it (heck a Google rep even called Chris and said to put ads on the site) then I think it’s OK for me to do it, you to do it and really anybody to do it as well.
GooglePosition.com ranks in the natural #5 position.
This site has ads.
This site doesn’t have a disclaimer that it is not affiliated with Google Inc.
This site displays a ton of terms that relate directly to Google’s products.
What’s My Point
Just because it may seem "OK" to do something you know will likely get you in hot water, don’t always judge a book by its cover.
Google at any time could de-index the sites, file a UDRP and get the domains and I’m sure much more. IMO, I just think by Google allowing the sites to rank very well for a popular search term, while containing their trademark terms in the domain is simply silly. It is like away of saying…. register our trademark in your domain name and promote your business like you are us! Sweet.
Some things I see really make me shake my head and this was one of them today. Maybe you feel differently about it? Let me know what you think, maybe I’m just missing something.
@Domains
I think you are taking a huge risk using domains in that way with a trademarked company name. It might be ok for a while but you’d always be wondering when it will come to an end.
jp
Guess what, looks like GoogleKeywordTools.com just expired and is pending deletion for 1/21/2012 according to what it says if you go to it now (although today is 1/27/2010). Looks like it was registered at GoDaddy. It isn’t listed in a TDNAM auction yet. Maybe GoDaddy decided to send the right message.
Jamie Zoch
@JP,
The story I wrote about was the singular domain and the domain you pointed out is the plural (tools). The owner of the plural domain likely “force deleted” the domain, so that is likely why it went pending delete so fast. I don’t think GoDaddy could just delete the domain, so it would have likely been the customer who requested it.
Jp
Yea I saw it was the plural. Just thought was interesting given the article. Didn’t look at the reg history to see it was force deleted though. Maybe he did it after reading your article. Perhaps you changed the world, even if small.
Jamie Zoch
@JP,
That is what I thought but I wasn’t sure. It is interesting and adds a bit to the story, so thanks for sharing. Hard to say if the owner noticed my story, was getting pressure from somebody etc.