There is one inconsistency between the Google Adsense Terms and Conditions and the Program Policies.
I discussed with a smart person in the Adsensor Club and send a lot of emails to Google Support, Becky, back and forth.
In Google AdSenseTM Online Standard Terms and Conditions, Point 2 Implementation and Operation of Ads, Search Results, and Referrals. Section 1 Adsense for Search, the wording is as below:
AdSense for Search. If You have elected to receive Search Results, You will display on Your Site(s) a Google search box (a “Search Box”) in accordance with the specifications provided by Google. Each Web page(s) that contains a Search Box must also contain other content related to Your Site. Except for related Google queries, all search queries (including queries entered into an Ad search box) must originate from individual human end users inputting data directly into a Search Box (or Ad search box, as applicable) on Your Site(s). You will send any and all queries (without editing, modifying, or filtering such queries individually or in the aggregate) to Google and Google will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide You with corresponding Search Results and/or Ads, as applicable and as available. Search Results and any accompanying Ads will be displayed on Web pages hosted by Google (each, a “Search Results Page”), the format, look and feel of which may be modified by Google from time to time.
The sentence I think important is underlined.
My understanding is Each Web page(s) that contains a Search Box must also contain other content related to Your Site. Becky gave me the defination of other content.
By ‘other content,’ we mean that there should be text related to your site also on the page. For example, if your site is about television, the page with the search box should have text about televisions.
She also pointed that, “Please be assured that if a page contains other content related to your site, you may place the Google AdSense for Search bar on that page. Because the page contains content related to your site, it would not be considered a non-content-based page.”
In the Google AdSense Program Policies, Ad Placement section, point 5 and 6 are as follow:
No Google ad may be placed on any non-content-based pages.
No Google ad or Google search box may be displayed on any domain parking websites, pop-ups, pop-unders, or in any email.
If I have not read the TOC, but the Program policies, I may think the Google search box may be placed on non-content-based pages. The real answer from Becky is No.
My conclusion is the program policies is not correct on this point, If we follow the Google Adsense Terms and Conditions.
Becky said, “I appreciate your additional feedback regarding the the potential inconsistency between the Terms and Conditions and the Program Policies. I’ll pass along your additional comments along to our product teams.” in the latest email.
I will continue to observe the changes of TOC and program policy.
