Just got this:

Subject: Choice Hotels- Important Changes to Program Restrictions
Date sent: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 12:35:09 -0700
From: <program_manager@cj.com>

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
<mailto:affiliates@choicehotels.com?subject=Choice %20Affiliate%20Questio
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?