Google Trademarks The Word "We" - Well, Kind Of

Apr 22, 2010 - 7:42 am 0 by
Filed Under Google Ads

A WebmasterWorld thread has one advertiser reporting that Google disapproved his AdWords ad due to trademark issues. In short, this advertiser said that Google disapproved the ad because of the word "we" was being used in the ad. The reason that Google gave him for the word "we" disapproving the ad was due to trademark usage.

Sounds strange? Yes, it does. Even Google's AdWordsAdvisor representative in the forums replied that it sounded a bit off. In any event, AdWordsAdvisor recommend "to submit an exception request." A exception request can be submitted over here.

AdWordsAdvisor speculates:

All I can think of is that it might have been a request of the trademark owners of the sort of well known game with a phonetically similar name - since maybe folks use 'we' as a workaround.

Just a wild guess. But an exception request should take care of it.

The issue seems to be resolved now and if you want to use the word "we" in your ad, it should now go through.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

Update: A Google AdWords Help thread reports the same issue and they posted a screen shot to prove it. Here is that screen capture:

AdWords "we" trademark

Or here is a full size image of this issue.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Google Search Volatility

More Details

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: July 1, 2026

Jul 1, 2026 - 10:00 am
Google

Google AI Mode Improves Links For Recipes, Again

Jul 1, 2026 - 7:51 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google AI Overviews Showing Markdown Files In Snippets Unexpectedly

Jul 1, 2026 - 7:41 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Tests AI Generated Summaries Under Descriptions

Jul 1, 2026 - 7:31 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Fraudulent DMCA Takedowns Wreak Havoc In Google Search

Jul 1, 2026 - 7:21 am
Google AdSense

Google AdSense Ad Intents To Add AI-Gemini-Generated Content

Jul 1, 2026 - 7:11 am
 
Previous Story: Daily Search Forum Recap: April 21, 2010