Trademark Infringement

What Trademark Infringement means

Trademark infringement in advertising occurs when an advertiser uses another company's registered trademark without authorization in ad copy, creative, or keywords in a way that could confuse consumers. Platform policies address trademark use differently — Google allows trademark bidding on keywords but restricts trademark use in ad copy (subject to trademark owner complaints), Meta restricts trademark use in ad text but allows comparative advertising under certain conditions, and most platforms have trademark complaint processes that can result in ad takedowns. Trademark owners can file complaints with platforms to restrict unauthorized use of their marks. Advertisers should understand the difference between nominative fair use (permissible reference to another brand for comparison) and infringing use (implying endorsement or creating confusion). Trademark violations can result in ad rejection, account restrictions, and civil litigation.