[asterisk-biz] Digium Relaxes Google Adword Policy

[Dean Collins]

Hi Danny,

 

Nice market correction response and nicely worded email. I wish more
CEO's would learn by your example.

 

I for one withdraw any complaints I made about Digium's actions and wish
you continued commercial growth and personal support.

 

Regards,

Dean Collins
Cognation Pty Ltd
dean at cognation.net
<mailto:dean at cognation.net> +1-212-203-4357 Ph
+61-2-9016-5642 (Sydney in-dial).

________________________________

From: asterisk-biz-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-biz-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Danny
Windham
Sent: Friday, 18 January 2008 7:03 PM
To: asterisk-biz at lists.digium.com
Subject: [asterisk-biz] Digium Relaxes Google Adword Policy

 

Over the past week Digium has received a number of charged responses
regarding the recent change in policy regarding use of Digium
trademarked terms in Google AdWords. Some of the responses supported our
attempts to better control the use of Digium trademarked terms. Some of
the responses disagreed with the policy, but respected Digium's right to
have changed the policy. Others were from individuals who clearly were
unhappy with the change and the process by which it was implemented. We
have listened carefully to the feedback, and as a result are relaxing
our Google AdWord policy. 

 

While we did provide Google a list of organizations that would be
authorized to use the Digium trademarked terms, in retrospect it's
apparent that we underestimated the number of organizations that were
utilizing Digium trademarked terms in their Google AdWords marketing
campaigns. Underestimating the magnitude of this policy change also
resulted in inadequate planning of the implementation of the change - we
simply could have done a better job of communicating the proposed change
in advance of it being implemented. We also could have better understood
the actual mechanics of Google's enforcement engine - and better
anticipated the corresponding result.

 

In short, we now believe we made a mistake and are working to relax the
requirements for using Digium trademarked terms in Google AdWords. The
resulting change will reinstate trademark rights for the vast majority
of those using the terms.  For the confusion and frustration created by
this event, we sincerely apologize.

 

A common test that I often use in determining the proper reaction when
something goes wrong is - were we doing it for the right reasons? In
this case the answer is absolutely yes. On the part of Digium and the
Asterisk community and ecosystem, there's value in ensuring that the
trademarked terms are used in a legal, consistent, and ethical fashion.
While it is important for Digium to protect its trademarks, we now
better understand just how significant an impact changes in this area
can have and just how important it is for any proposed change to be
judiciously derived and methodically implemented. 

 

Thank you for your continued support of Digium.

 

 

 Danny Windham

CEO

Digium, Inc. 

 

 

 

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