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Lawsuit Against Google Dismissed

Posted by kdawson on from the and-a-pony dept.

Weather Storm writes in with news from PCWorld that a US District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Google by a company that accused them of manipulating search results for political and religious reasons and skewing results in favor of companies that compensate Google financially. The lawsuit (discussed on Slashdot last year) was filed by KinderStart, a parenting information Web site that claims it was illegally blocked from Google search results. The judge not only dismissed the lawsuit but granted a motion by Google to sanction KinderStart and one of its lawyers. Google can now seek "reasonable compensation" for attorney fees because KinderStart's lawyer filed claims that were factually baseless and did not perform an adequate investigation before filing the lawsuit.

4 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Not far enough by xigxag · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So KinderStart's case was dismissed because they didn't have any evidence? All well and good, but I would've preferred a ruling that said even if they could substantiate their claims, that they were not entitled to any damages.

    I mean, so what if Google skews their search results? They aren't under any obligation to link to the whole web or to do so in an objective manner.

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  2. Imagine if NewsMedia Had To Do This! by SRA8 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Skewing coverage and results? Imagine if the US News Media had to abide by such rules -- we wouldnt have 24hr coverage of the latest girl being kidnapped. Perhaps we could actually get news on world events, aside from that "World in 30 seconds" segment.

    1. Re:Imagine if NewsMedia Had To Do This! by Seumas · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sure we'd have 24 hour coverage of girls being kidnapped. They'd just have to show other girls who aren't blond haired, blue eyed, attractive and from affluent families.

    2. Re:Imagine if NewsMedia Had To Do This! by Shatrat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It would be more likely the opposite. We would have 24 hour coverage of Britney Spears' breakdowns and freak potatoes shaped like Elvis' head because nobody would want to air anything influential and possibly get in legal trouble.
      The media is inane enough, it doesn't need more help from people who 'know what is good for us'.

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