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France: No Google Text Ads For Trademarked Words

Posted by timothy on from the word-police-regroup dept.

ASN writes "Reuters reports that a French court barred Google from providing text ads with search results for trademarked terms, except those from the trademark owner (in this case, 'Bourse des vols,' potentially -- 'Microsoft,' 'Scientology' even 'Linux'). According to Reuters, 'If it was upheld on appeal and validated in other countries the decision could force the search services to pre-screen search terms for trademarks before letting advertisers use them.' Google was fined 75,000 euros for the practice, and would have to pay 1,500 euro for each further infraction while appeal is underway (which makes one wonder if Google is paying for this)."

4 of 470 comments (clear)

  1. Enforcement authority? by John+Jorsett · · Score: 0, Troll

    Are the Google French servers even located in France? If so, perhaps they should be moved out of the country and the French told to kiss Google's derriere.

  2. Re:Insanity! by curious.corn · · Score: 0, Troll

    Hey I'M a stupid european! YOU sound like the caricature of the AMERICAN REDNECK asshole. Do you think us europeans say "Ah those american twits!" everytime the USPTO burps some clumsy patent or some frivolous laswuit is filed? Get your head out of your ass... (ok, I fed the troll but hell! if all Murdock's FOX does is feedback these brain-farts I'd gladly jail the whole bunch for the sake of National Security).

    --
    Mi domando chi à il mandante di tutte le cazzate che faccio - Altan
  3. Must have a lot of French mods today by John+Jorsett · · Score: 0, Troll

    Poor babies, did I insult you?

  4. No google for France by attobyte · · Score: 1, Troll

    Just ban the site from France. It is a easy fix and people will fix the problems themselves if they want to use google over thier.

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    I didn't use the preview button, so get over it!!!!

    Mike