Microsoft crack down on use of product names hurts rankings

[inzones]

I have a website that sells PowerPoint and Microsoft Word templates. Recently an attorney from Microsoft contacted me and said that I could no longer user the terms "PowerPoint Template" or "PowerPoint Zone" in my website www.inzones.com. They also said I could no longer use one of my aliases www.powerpointzone.com. I dutifully changed the wording in my website and now find that I have slipped to page two for a search on "PowerPoint Templates" while many of my competitors remain in top positions using the words "PowerPoint Template" all over their sites.

This does not seem fair because I am following the law and the people who aren't get higher rankings. Just wondered if anyone else is experiencing anything similar.

[jacobwissler]

If you try to figure out why search engines do things, you will drive yourself crazy and never find a logical conclusion. SERPS change for reasons that no one will ever fully understand.

[cspelts]

an attorney from Microsoft contacted me and said that I could no longer user the terms "PowerPoint Template"

It looks like you've switched to "Templates for Microsoft Powerpoint" which seems like a smart move to me. Google in particular seems to be getting better and better at providing relevent results, even if the words are in a slightly different order, or plural rather than singular, etc.

I also have to say that it would do no good to ignore the lawyers like your competitors seem to be doing. I was involved in a sort-of-similar situation, and we balked, and the letters just kept coming. We finally got somewhere when we attenpted to reason with them, but we had to give a little, to get them to give a little.

[compusolver]

Microsoft will sue whether they're right or wrong and they hire big-gun lawfirms who intimidate other lawyers just by showing up. Not a good idea to ignore them. Been there, done that.

[DrTandem1]

It depends whether your competitors are licensed retailers of Microsoft products. They could be selling the real-deal while you may be selling something that works on their PowerPoint. Of course, they could just be outside of the country where Microsoft's attorney's have no clout.

Trademarks must be protected by their owners. If they are not, the owner could lose it. If you think Microsoft is tough, watch out for Disney.

[osnet]

Microsoft will sue whether they're right or wrong and they hire big-gun lawfirms who intimidate other lawyers just by showing up. Not a good idea to ignore them. Been there, done that.

Do what my friend does when big companies attack over things like this. Find out who the lawfirm/lawyers are.
Dig up enough dirt to make them think you work for the CIA and even M$ lawyers will leave you alone.

I heard that a lawyer for a fortune 500 company showed up in court, not realizing he had a no-show warrant in another state. State/Local warrants are public record.

[khurramali]

You can beat your competitors by getting more relevant links to your website and doing more SEO.

Hell ask microsoft to put a link from their power point templates page to your website to help you get your rankings back.

Be polite and explain your problem, i am sure they will understand and give you space to breathe.

[AccuraCast]

I dutifully changed the wording in my website and now find that I have slipped to page two for a search on "PowerPoint Templates" while many of my competitors remain in top positions using the words "PowerPoint Template" all over their sites.

Maybe just the eternal cynic in me talking, but are you SURE it was a Microsoft attorney on the phone and not just some smart-ass competitor trying to get one up??

[inzones]

I'm sure it was Microsoft. She had an authentic Microsoft email address, which I replyed to. When she didn't write back after a week or so, I tracked the attorney down by telephone. She was very polite and helpful.

[onlinetv]

You can beat your competitors by getting more relevant links to your website and doing more SEO.

Hell ask microsoft to put a link from their power point templates page to your website to help you get your rankings back.

Be polite and explain your problem, i am sure they will understand and give you space to breathe.

Absolutely. If you show value add to Microsoft they will do a lot FOR you. You just have to get through to them and better to use some account exec to get up to a department head. I have the head of Media Player for obvious reasons. Use the telephone at first to at least get a name and direct email.

Lawyers are just like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz, you have to ignore them and go to the source and get them to give you those rights back. It is not ignoring them going deeper into the den.

I assume you add value, they will love you and want reciprocal links and may even do merchandising deals.