Australian Court Rules Google AdWords Not Liable For Advertiser Misleading Ads

Feb 8, 2013 - 8:19 am 0 by
Filed Under Google Ads

Australian LawRemember in August 2012, we reported that Google was liable in Australia for deceptive ads run by advertisers through Google AdWords? Well, that decision was overruled the other day by Australia's High Court.

Greg Sterling at Search Engine Land has a great write up on it.

CNet summarizes it well.

Google has won a landmark advertising case in Australia with a ruling that the Web giant was not responsible for misleading advertising that ran on its site.

The five judges of Australia's High Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that Google did not violate trade laws by allowing companies to purchase AdWords related to competitors' names. The decision overturned a Federal Court's ruling last April that found four advertisements purchased on the site between March 2006 and July 2007 were misleading and in violation of Australia's Trade Practices Act 1974.

This is a huge decision for Google in Australia. Big win.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

Image credit to BigStockPhoto for Australian Parliament.

 

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