RE: Search400 blackmail?

I think many of the search engines do this now, dont they. I read
recently that they now sell the first page of results from popular
searches, so companies can buy positions in the search results

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tim McCarthy [mailto:TimM@softwarejungle.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 8:11 PM
>To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
>Subject: Search400 blackmail?
>
>
>I'd be interested in any other software vendors opinion of this item
>received from Search400. Bear in mind that our company is a search400
>customer - we place banner ads with them. Does this not sound like a
>form of blackmail?
>
>>Search400.com has had vendors approach us about buying search keywords
>>that are their competitors' company name or product name.  Here's a
>>fictional example --  Microsoft might buy the keywords "IBM" and
>>"AS/400" so that all user searches on these terms will result in a
>>Microsoft banner above Web results relevant to IBM and AS/400. 
>
>>This is not an uncommon occurrance on other search engines.  For
>>example, Yahoo regularly sells keyword banners associated with company
>>names to either the company or their competitors.
>
>>Before we begin to accept these orders, we want to offer you the
>>opportunity to lock up the keywords for the name of your company and
>>products.  We've developed a special vendor keyword package where you
>>can buy your company name and three of your company's product 
>names for
>>only $250 per month. This special is effective until December 31st. 
>
>>If you're interested in taking advantage of this special offer please
>>call me or reply to this email.  We will not accept any insertion
>>orders for competitive "keyword" names until January.
>  
>
>TrailBlazer Systems, Inc.
>http://www.as400ftp.com
>AS/400 Communications & E-Commerce Solutions
>
>Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.
>
>
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