Google has been suing some of its advertisers.
Michael Zwibelman, Google's litigation counsel, has reported on the Google Blog that they sued some drug advertisers. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-rogue-pharmacies-to-court.html
They previously sued advertisers of alleged get rich scams using the "Google" name. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/fighting-fraud-online-taking-google.html
"Names to be wary of: Google Adwork, Google ATM, Google Biz Kit, Google Cash, Earn Google Cash Kit, Google Fortune, Google Marketing Kit, Google Profits, The Home Business Kit for Google, Google StartUp Kit, and Google Works."
Good Gear Guide: http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/article/361853/google_sues_allegedly_rogue_prescription_drug_advertisers/
"Thus, Google's motives for filing this lawsuit likely go beyond a desire to chase away from AdWords the specific defendants and deter others, said Eric Goldman, associate professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law and director of its High Tech Law Institute."
...
"The lawsuit could also help Google reduce its liability exposure if one of these vendors gets criminally prosecuted and it comes to light that they marketed their products using AdWords, Goldman said."
"While Google stands to benefit in various ways from this lawsuit, there is also a small risk that the case could backfire. By alleging breach of contract, Google opens the door for the defendants to challenge the validity of the AdWords terms and conditions, Goldman said."
see also
slashdot: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/09/23/0047212/Google-Sues-Dodgy-Advertisers |
And on the other side of the Atlantic, Google is part-funding a "voluntary" scheme for the Advertising Standards Authority to regulate all website advertising in the UK. Additional funding will come from a 0.1% "voluntary" levy on online advertising.
It sounds a bit hare-brained if you ask me. As far as I can tell, it covers all UK online advertising, not just paid placements in search engines.
If the Advertising Standards Authority decides an ad is undesirable, it can't force the ad off the internet. Instead, the ASA seems to have a deal with Google so that Google will "place adverts that shame persistent offenders when consumers search for their brands or products". No way that's going to work!
Source:
Financial Times – "Google to aid crackdown on website ads"
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc6de4ee-b537-11df-9af8-00144feabdc0.html
Bear in mind that this is the same Advertising Standards Authority that decided that it was "legal, decent, honest and truthful" to advertise unlimited mobile data downloads when there was in fact a 250MB per month limit, provided there was wording that said "subject to fair use policy". So they don't judge the ads from the consumer's point of view.
PCPRO – "Advertising watchdog: 250MB is unlimited"
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/245404/advertising-watchdog-250mb-is-unlimited |
