In a complete about-face, eBay has withdrawn its US presence from Google AdWords.
Since August of last year the two internet titans had joined forces in the online commercial space, but following the launch of Google Checkout, what Google touts as a one stop online shop, relations have been somewhat strained.
eBay’s decision to completely pull out of Google’s ad space is seen as a reaction to Google’s encouragement of Checkout users to stage a protest on the same day as the eBay’s Live 2007 conference is going ahead.
eBay Live is the company’s largest annual event, where the eBay community can networks, and attend talks on online entrepreneurial topics.
On Google’s official blog, the company urged potential attendees of eBay Live to boycott in favour of “Let freedom Ring”, a gathering intended to highlight a “celebration of user choice”.
Although Google since cancelled the protest, it was seen as a guerilla tactic of persuading eBay into incorporating the Google Checkout feature into its website.
Google stated, “After speaking with officials at eBay, we at Google agreed that it was better for us not to feature this event during the eBay Live conference.”
Outside the US, eBay remains as a customer of Google AdWords.
By Marie Boran
