A French Court Fined A Blogger For His Negative Review Ranking Too Well In Google

Jul 22, 2014 - 8:31 am 8 by

Google FranceThis is news from last week, but it still makes me shiver. Via the BBC French blogger fined over review's Google search placing.

Yes, a blogger wrote a negative review about a restaurant and a French judge ordered that the post's title be amended and told the blogger Caroline Doudet to pay damages.

The judge ordered that the post's title be amended and told the blogger Caroline Doudet to pay damages.

Ms Doudet said the decision made it a crime to be highly ranked on search engines.

The restaurant owners said the article's prominence was unfairly hurting their business.

Ms Doudet was sued by the owner of Il Giardino restaurant in the Aquitaine region of southwestern France after she wrote a blogpost entitled "the place to avoid in Cap-Ferret: Il Giardino".

According to court documents, the review appeared fourth in the results of a Google search for the restaurant. The judge decided that the blog's title should be changed, so that the phrase: "the place to avoid" was less prominent in the results.

Well, maybe it back fired because a search for [Is Il Giardino in Cap-Ferret the worst restaurant in France?] = Is Il Giardino in Cap-Ferret the worst restaurant in France? is plastered with news articles now.

click for full size

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Google Core Update Flux, AdSense Ad Intent, California Link Tax & More - YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Blog Administration

Programming Note: Offline For Passover

Apr 22, 2024 - 4:05 pm
Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: April 22, 2024

Apr 22, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google: We Need Very Few Links To Rank Pages; Links Are Less Important

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Tests Discussion and Forums Questions With Answers Box

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Forbes Blocks Its Coupon Directory Before Google Enforces The Site Reputation Abuse Policy

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google Maps

Google Tests Posts Button In Local Listing Business Profile

Apr 22, 2024 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Google Maps Android Adds Elevations In Bike Directions