Indian court ruling on Google keyword ads could reshape online advertising

Indian court ruling on Google keyword ads could reshape online advertising

NEW DELHI, May 29 : An Indian court ruling that Google infringed the trademark rights of a bathroom fittings maker by allowing rivals to use its name as an advertising keyword could reshape the online ads market, Indian businesses said on Friday.The court ordered Google to pay damages of $31,600 in a ruling i

What the Google-Hindware ruling means for search advertising in India

A recent Delhi High Court ruling against Google has raised fresh questions about one of digital advertising's most common practices, using a competitor's trademark as a search advertising keyword. The Court ordered Google to pay Hindware ₹30 lakh and restrained it from allowing the use of keywords such as "HINDWARE" and related trademark combinations in connection with competing brands. While the monetary penalty is relatively modest, the judgme…

Hindware v. Google: a new chapter in intermediary liability

Published The Delhi High Court’s decision in Hindware v. Google marks an important development in the intermediary liability jurisprudence. By holding Google liable for trademark infringement through its AdWords program, the Court has narrowed the protective umbrella of “safe harbor” under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. What makes this case truly significant is the Court’…

Delhi HC Bars Google From Auctioning Hindware Trademark Keywords

You can access the court order from here The Delhi High Court (HC) has permanently restrained Google LLC and Google India from using the registered trademark “HINDWARE” as an advertising keyword, holding that the company’s keyword auction system constitutes trademark infringement under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and that it cannot claim safe harbour under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Justice Mini Pushkarna delivered the ju…