Google Settles 14-Year Ad Lawsuit for $100 Million

In a significant development, Google has agreed to pay $100 million to settle a class action lawsuit that has been ongoing for 14 years. The lawsuit accused Google of charging advertisers for clicks on ads that were displayed outside the geographic locations specified by the advertisers. This legal battle, which began in 2011, focused on Google's AdWords platform, now known as Google Ads. The plaintiffs claimed that Google violated California’s Unfair Competition law by misleading advertisers about where their ads would be shown. Additionally, it was alleged that Google failed to deliver on its promise of providing 'Smart Pricing' discounts.

The settlement proposal was filed in a California court and awaits judicial approval. Google's spokesperson, José Castañeda, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, noting that the case involved ad product features that were changed over a decade ago. This settlement follows a comprehensive fact discovery process, which included the review of over 910,000 pages of documents and multiple terabytes of click data from Google.

This lawsuit is one of several legal challenges Google faces. The company is also dealing with a federal antitrust lawsuit that could potentially force it to sell its Chrome browser. Furthermore, Google is on trial over another Department of Justice lawsuit accusing it of monopolizing the advertising technology industry.

The class affected by this settlement includes advertisers who used Google’s AdWords service between June 1, 2009, and December 13, 2012. This resolution marks a significant step in addressing long-standing grievances from advertisers who felt misled by Google’s advertising practices.

QuarkyByte offers insights and solutions that help businesses navigate complex legal landscapes and optimize their advertising strategies. By leveraging our expertise, businesses can ensure compliance and maximize the effectiveness of their digital marketing efforts.