Choice Hotels - no clue?

[altyfc]

Just got this:

Subject: Choice Hotels- Important Changes to Program Restrictions Date sent: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 12:35:09 -0700 From: Dear Valued Affiliate, We have made some important new changes to our Affiliate Program regarding our Program restrictions. The newly revised Keyword Link with details about this information can be found in your account page as well. Program Restrictions: * Affiliates should set max bids at no more than $.35 for keywords. * Publishers may NOT outbid us on the following keyword brand terms: Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Mainstay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Choice Privileges, EA$Y Choice, Cambria Suites. * When affiliates are using Choice marks in keyword search marketing, including pay-per-click marketing (PPC), or online advertising and display advertising (banners), etc., consumers must be directed to the URL provided by Choice. If you are deep-linking to a particular property, consumers must be directed to the URL of the Hotel Property advertised. * Affiliates may NOT use the following verbiage in text ads: Official Site Official Website Official Web Site Official Hotel Site Official Hotel Website Official Hotel Web Site Direct Source (Direct Source) Direct Booking Source Direct Reservation Source Direct Hotel Source Official Reservation Site Official Booking Site Official Reservation Website Official Reservation Web Site Official Booking Website Official Booking Web Site Direct Booking Site Direct Reservation Site Direct Booking Website Direct Booking Web Site Direct Reservation Website Direct Reservation Web Site Including any of the following symbols: Registration Mark, TM mark. As in ChoiceHotels.com R online. Comfort Inn TM Choice Hotels will not pay commissions on any transactions that were generated as a result of keyword buys on competitive brand terms (e.g.), used alone or in conjunction with any other word or phrase. Thank you your continued promotion of Choice Hotels and hard work in making sure that your customers have access to the best value in travel. Your hard work is truly appreciated. Please contact us ns> at any time if you need more information! Best, Paula Valentine Senior Director, eCommerce affiliates@choicehotels.com

Hmmm... so let's look at a few of these issues:

Affiliates should set max bids at no more than $.35 for keywords.

How are they going to know whether affiliates are complying with that rule, or not? And why should they be worried about what affiliates choose to spend or not to spend in any case?

Publishers may NOT outbid us on the following keyword brand terms: Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Mainstay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, Choice Privileges, EA$Y Choice, Cambria Suites.

Are they going to tell us how much they're bidding for each of those terms?

Affiliates may NOT use the following verbiage in text ads: Official Site Official Website Official Web Site Official Hotel Site Official Hotel Website Official Hotel Web Site

So... "Official Accommodation Website" is OK?