RE: UKNM: Meta Tags?

[Ian Collingwood]

Jason -


This appeared on my desk some months ago (courtesy of one of my researcher

colleagues). Seems that you can't include trademarks in metatags or you'll

get busted.


Sadly the link to the original story seems to be out of date now - try

searching The Register's Archive.



<snip>

"There is now a precedent in UK law against infringing trademarks in meta

keyword tags.

UK court slaps reseller for metatag squatting

http://www.theregister.co.uk/000602-000023.html

A Tyneside reseller has become the first company to be roasted by a UK court

over trademark infringement in HTML 'meta' tags.


So in short, if you're adding meta keywords whilst building or a client

asks, trademarks that are not owned by the client should be avoided.

Conversely a client may have recourse if you spot a competitor using their

trademarks for the purpose of diverting traffic (the chances of anyone

stealing major traffic using this method is slim).


There will be grey areas where keywords are considered fair use, for example

in the States last year former Playboy Playmate of the Year Terri Welles was

sued by Playboy for use of the Playboy and Playmate trademarks in meta

keyword tags on her personal site. The judge ruled that having had the title

bestowed upon her by the company and having mentioned the terms on the site

itself, Ms Welles had the right to use the trademarks in her meta tags.

<snip>


Cheers


Ian


___________________________________________

Ian Collingwood

Consulting & Strategy Group

circle.com - 4th Floor 12 Alfred Place,

London WC1E 7EB

t:   020 7 959 7545 m: 07973 266 163

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e:

ian [dot] collingwooduk [dot] circle [dot] com

icq: 39850942



Jason asked:

> What's the situation regarding another company using another's

> site name and domain names in the meta tags of their site?

>

> anyone know?

>

> cheers

>

> Jason



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