Google fined by Delhi HC for misdirecting searches to rivals' products

NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has ordered Google to pay Rs 30 lakh in damages to a sanitaryware maker after finding that internet users searching for the company's products were directed to rival manufacturers through Google's advertising system.

Google fined by Delhi HC for misdirecting searches to rivals' products. NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has ordered Google to pay Rs 30 lakh in damages to a sanitaryware maker after finding that internet users searching for the company's products were directed to rival manufacturers through Google's advertising system. HC said Google is liable to pay damages for allowing rival competitors to place advertisements on Hindware's trademark as keywords, leading to losses. Google's Ads programme allows advertisers to bid on keywords to trigger their ads. Hindware argued that when consumers typed its trademark into Google's search engine, sponsored links for competitors appeared alongside the search results, diverting potential customers. Justice Mini Pushkarna, while dealing with two lawsuits by Hindware Ltd, held that the use of trademarks as keywords...