Is PPC on Trademarks Stealing?

[angelabx]

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I've noticed recently that when a merchant decides to prohibit PPC bidding on their trademark then our conversions for that merchant suddenly increase.

I've always felt that allowing affiliates to bid on trademarks was allowing them to get commission either due to other affiliates or not really payable anyway.

eg.

I as an affiliate attracts a user to my site who is searching for

'yellow bent widgets'

I suggest they try (for example) Comet, PC World and Dixons.

The user visits these sites and gets my cookie.

A bit later in the day they think, yes, dixons were the best so they want to return to Dixons to make the purchase.

They do what most of us would do and type Dixons into Google

Usually the most prominent link on Google is an Adwords one from an affiliate. They click the link and my commission for preselling the product is handed to another affiliate.

Of course if the merchant prohibits PPC on it's trademark then the sale would most likely be credited to me as they would arrive at the merchants site directly.

We all talk about adware, rebate catchers etc being scumware for stealing commissions from the rightfull affiliate but isn't PPC on Trademarks similar?

Tough one eh?

I thought a ballot would be interesting ...........

Is it fair on other affiliates to allow PPC bidding on site names/trademarks?

[999gi]

Im confused

The thread title is
"Is PPC on Trademarks Stealing?"

Above the poll it says
"Is it fair on other affiliates to allow PPC bidding on site names/trademarks?"

These are opposite

I voted based on the thread title which Im guessing could be the wrong way round

[angelabx]

You're right - it's confusing!

Could a mod possibly change it and reset the poll?

I can't see how to do it myself!

Whoops! Sorry.