Legal: General
One-star ratings on Google are deemed not defamatory and why that’s a problem
It's crucial to have a solid review management strategy in place and for local SEOs to manage SMB expectations around review...
Verdict is in for CEO involved in forging court order over reputation attack
This case highlights the lack of protection and justice available for online defamation victims from Google and other tech...
Google involved in Supreme Court case that may change class-action damages awards
The question before the court involves 'cy-près' and whether it was OK for plaintiffs' attorneys to allocate settlement money to their own law...
CEO who forged court order to get Google to remove defamation faces prison
Contributor Chris Silver Smith tells the lamentable story of a sophisticated apparent reputation attack and a victimized company led to take...
How the EU fine will ruin Google Shopping for the consumer
What will be the impact of the European Union's recent antitrust fine against Google? Columnist and shopping ads expert Andreas Reiffen weighs...
Initial Interest Confusion rears its ugly head once more in trademark infringement case
Columnist Chris Silver Smith details recent trademark infringement cases in which site search results pages caused legal issues for retailer...
What does the Consumer Review Fairness Act mean for consumers and online reviews?
Columnist Sherry Bonelli discusses the impact that newly signed legislation may have on local business owners and review...
FTC sues 1-800 Contacts over reciprocal, ‘anti-competitive’ PPC bidding agreements
Bidding agreements prevented 1-800 Contacts and its rivals from bidding on each other's trademarked terms....
Google reports more than 40K government requests for user data during 2nd half of 2015
Google says it is proud its transparency reports have helped "shed light on government surveillance laws and practices" around the world....
Florida court allows Google to be sued by publisher delisted as “pure spam”
Procedural ruling flies in the face of established legal precedent....
“Illegitimate” SEO Sentenced To 37 Months In Federal Prison For Extortion
An SEO named William Stanley was sentenced to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay $174,888 in fees for SEO...
Google Loses Appeal By AdWords Advertisers In Suit Over Ads On Error Pages
Ruling overturns lower court denial of class-action status for advertisers, paving the way for plaintiffs to be able to sue as a group. Higher...
Google Files Suit Against SEO Firm Accused Of Robocalling, Launches Complaint Center For Users
The company finally takes defensive action against illegal robocallers that prey on small...
EU Says Process For Reviewing Right To Be Forgotten Appeals Is Working
Of the nearly 2,000 complaints reviewed so far, the EU found the majority of denied RTBF requests were justified....
12 Elements Of A Solid SEO Contract
Columnist Janet Driscoll Miller lays out her foundation for creating a search engine optimization (SEO) contract that's fair, clear, and...
Right-To-Be-Forgotten One Year Later: 70 Percent Of Requests Refused
The most often cited reason for RTBF requests is "invasion of...
Google Japan Ordered To Remove Negative Reviews Based On Thin Evidence
Ruling appears to be based largely on affidavit signed by the doctor in question....
Android “Default Search” Class Action Against Google Tossed By Judge
Last week, Russian search engine Yandex filed a formal complaint against Google in its home market, arguing that Google was using its control...
Google Settles UK “Defamation” Suit, Agreeing To Remove Malicious Links
Google has long maintained it’s not responsible for third party content in its index. And that’s the law in the US. However...
Another Court Affirms Google’s First Amendment Control Of Search Results
Europe and the U.S. continue to drift further apart on Google. Even as European parliamentarians and regulators seek ways to restrain...