The Unseemly Web of Keyword Advertising

Despite the surface simplicity of keyword advertising disputes (typically entailing unwanted use of the exact trademark of a direct competitor promoting competing goods or services) the web the courts have spun addressing such Web-based advertising has been anything but. Fortunately, the Second Circuit's April 3 decision in <i>Rescuecom Corp. v. Google, Inc.</i>(on the one-year anniversary of oral argument), straightens at least some of the tangled seams by recognizing that keyword ads tied to a trademark do constitute a use in commerce of the subject mark.

27 minute read May 29, 2009 at 11:31 AM
By
Jonathan Moskin
The Unseemly Web of Keyword Advertising

Despite the surface simplicity of keyword advertising disputes (typically entailing unwanted use of the exact trademark of a direct competitor promoting competing goods or services) the web the courts have spun addressing such Web-based advertising has been anything but.

This premium content is locked for The Intellectual Property Strategist subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN The Intellectual Property Strategist

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2026 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Continue Reading

Agentic AI introduces risks that are novel and complex, but the most effective response is a familiar one. Zero Trust answers the problem of when an AI agent misfires on its own by constraining what an agent can do rather than betting on how it will behave.

July 31, 2026

The outsourcing of office and administrative services is expected to grow 50%-60% in the next five years. Contrary to what decision-makers think, and what the service providers hope you think, the biggest risk in outsourcing isn't choosing the wrong provider. It's outsourcing the wrong process, under the wrong model, with the wrong performance measures and contract terms.

July 31, 2026