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Promotion of third-party products and services

Note

To ensure consistency worldwide, Microsoft Advertising enforces our policies across our ad network using the English version. We provide translated versions as a courtesy to our clients, though the translations are not meant to change the content or meaning of the official policy language.

Important

This policy applies to all ad types.

Note

This page was last updated on May 18, 2026.

  • Advertisers offering services or otherwise promoting a third-party product may not claim affiliation with the owner or manufacturer of the product when no such relationship exists.

  • Advertisers may not state or imply that they are the owner of a product or service when this is not the case.

  • Advertisers must be accurate when describing their relationship with the owner of a product or service (for example if they are authorized distributors).

  • Brands, logos etc. may not be used deceptively, either in ad copy or on the landing page, in a way that tends to suggest that the site, product or service is owned, managed, promoted, or endorsed by the owner of the product or service, unless a qualified relationship exists (parent-affiliate, certified partners, authorized resellers etc.).

    • Certified partners and resellers must comply with the brand requirements, including brand usage guidelines, and may not misuse their certification credentials for the purpose of misrepresenting affiliation or endorsement, or otherwise conveying legitimacy to their sites and offers for deceptive purposes.

  • Advertisers may not use misleading display or destination URLs or domains.

  • All sites must provide access to contact information, such as a valid phone number, email, contact form or mailing address.

  • Advertisers may not promote online technical support to consumers for products or services that the advertisers do not directly own.

  • Advertisers must not claim to provide a service that can only be provided by the actual owner of the products or service advertised. For example, a third party may not claim to be able to reset email passwords.

What happens when an ad policy is violated

The penalty varies by the nature of the violation, and the number of violations. Learn More

Note

Go back to Restricted Content

Additional resources

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