Richard and you just called Google on it, and I do it as well on every event in Poland I speak at. This issue is not English-only. Lets hope more people will spread this.

A bit off-topic, in Poland we have another example of Google throwing away the rules - check this serp: http://www.google.pl/search?hl=pl&q=darmowe+pozycjonowanie&btnG=Szukaj+w+Google&lr= - you should be able to see an ad promoting AdWords. Nothing special till it comes out that “darmowe pozycjonowanie” means something like “free seo services” or “free web positioning”. Quite amusing, this ad is alive at least since Nov 2007, when I spotted it first time.

Rich does a lot more on Domain Parks. I tend to look somewhat more at Content Match. He’s found some ugly stuff.

Again, it comes down to what Google chooses to define as a “Search page”. Somewhere along the line, you’ll have checked a box agreeing that Google may deliver your adverts to search pages and content pages. But doesn’t actually define what constitutes a search page or a content page. The result is that Google can manipulate where adverts appear to suit their revenue needs. The costs of checking, by each advertiser, are high… unless the checks can be automated and shared. So the risk to Google that someone will call them on it, are low.

Cheers, JeremyC.

http://www.apogee-web-consulting.com/blogger/2007/08/adwords-team-sabotages-google-corporate.html
http://www.apogee-web-consulting.com/blogger/2008/10/harvard-professor-says-what-apogee.html

In essence, Google arbitrarily counts some content sites (parked domains) into search network.