The Google AdWord Vultures

It’s interesting to watch how Google’s ‘Sponsored Links’ capture aspects of the business process, in particular the plundering of customers from a company in trouble. Take CardSystems, for example, facing a class action suit, the loss of its main business and other indignities as a result of the theft of large amounts of credit card data from its vaults. Do a keyword search ‘cardsystems’ on Google and you get a stream of ads:

Let’s ignore the further indignity of two of the ads not being able to get the company’s name right. Where does Google draw the line on this kind of behaviour? Do they allow companies to place ads willy-nilly suggesting problems with their rivals and offering a solution? ‘Is Microsoft going bust? Switch to Apple while you can’ type thing.