[bibby]

In CJ under a merchants terms, many say that you can't include their name or brand in the Top Level of your domain.

Does top level mean example dot com?

So if the merchant is "test company", would I be able to include the brand in the following url?

example dot com forward slash test company

I have some web pages where I would like to name my pages like the example above and I want to make sure that i'm not violating the merchant's terms.

[Convergence]

Typically the following is not allowed:

Keyword<brand>.ext (top level, one placement before the .ext)

Some merchants allow:

<brand>.domainname.ext (sub-domain, two placements before the .ext)
domainname.ext/<brand> (display URL, placement after the .ext)

Some merchants allow all, some, or none...

[bibby]

Thanks. So the best policy is to contact the merchant.

[Convergence]

Originally Posted by bibby

Thanks. So the best policy is to contact the merchant.

Yes, better not to ass-u-me...

[bibby]

Originally Posted by Convergence

Yes, better not to ass-u-me...

We wouldn't want that

I already started to email some of my merchants.

[Chuck Hamrick]

ditto, its a black hat technique to buy variations of the merchants domain and misspellings. Generally page names with the brand on your domain is not a problem but it should be defined in the T&C's but seldom is.

[bibby]

Thanks guys. This all started because I used to think top level domain meant the root domain like example dot com and below the top level was something like example dot com/test.

After reading more, I found that top level means one level before the com like example.com (Yes, i'm a little slow . I'm just not sure if merchants are using that terminology in it's technically defined nature that ICANN does.

I think most would assume example dot com/merchant name would be OK.

Contacting the merchant in this case is the best course of action to take.

[bibby]

I just thought I would update you. I sent out about 10 emails asking for permission to use the brand in my domain and 4 have alrteady replied and gave me permission.

I just thought it would be good to provide some positive merchant feedback. A lot of what we read (I'm a culprit) is negative but this is an example where affiliates and merchants can work together.

[Convergence]

Bibby,

Thanks for the update!