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Aussies Sue Over Misleading Google Ads

Posted by kdawson on from the common-carrier-or-policeman dept.

eldavojohn writes "Google is the target of another lawsuit — this time over whether or not they are responsible for the content that advertisers put up on their site. The case involves an instance where Google displayed ads for two automotive dealerships in Australia, yet the links led users to the site of a commercial rival. The company that placed the ads in 2005 avoided a lawsuit by settling with Australian regulators, who are now going after Google for not policing the ads. If this suit holds up it will set a precedent for very heavy ad monitoring responsibility on the part of all search engines, not just Google."

8 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid lawsuits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Only in America! Err...wait.

    1. Re:Stupid lawsuits? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Shh. You'll upset the world view of people who like to criticize the US' world view.

    2. Re:Stupid lawsuits? by VJ42 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Only in America! Err...wait. Dumb convicts*, don't even know which part of the world they're in...
      not that the Yanks* are much better, at least the frogs* have reedeming features within a train ride or or even driving distance. to be pompous and patronising to the face of the rest of you guys costs a small fortune, and takes hours on a long haul flight. ;p


      *note, I'm English, therefore I have a licence to call the Aussies convicts, Americans Yanks and generally insult the French. In return they get to call me a Pom, Limey or generally insult me. when these activities are performed by other nationalities (including, but not limited to the Welsh, Scots, Germans or Americans) it's trolling. From us English, it's friendly rivalry and banter.
      This licence is irrevocable and non-transferable.
      --
      If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
  2. Messenger not responsible for the Message by prakslash · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am not a Google fanboi but this lawsuit is BS. Google cannot police the content of the ads. It is just a medium - akin to a billboard or a newspaper.

    How many times have we seen informercials on TV and the web promising extraordinary "male enhancement"? My wife keeps pointing me to them all the time (I guess she is telling me something).

    Anyways, they never work. They are all bogus but I have never been able to bring lawsuits against the TV stations or the websites.

    I can sue the advertiser not the medium.

    1. Re:Messenger not responsible for the Message by D-Cypell · · Score: 4, Funny

      How many times have we seen informercials on TV and the web promising extraordinary "male enhancement"?

      I would not recommend these products at all!

      As someone who has battled with literacy problems my entire life I thought this was exactly what I was looking for! However, I bought a tonne of these pills and I still cannot read my male... plus, for some strange reason, I now have difficulty putting my trousers on in the morning!

  3. Mislead by halcyon1234 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Aussies are just pissed off because they didn't read the advertiser's fine print that stated "Results not typical. Not all users will experience the same gain in length or width. Some users may not notice any change at all."

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    UTF-8: There and Back Again
  4. That's insane! by Rogerborg · · Score: 5, Funny

    It'd be like expecting Slashdot 'editors' to actually read the linked articles before posting the stories. Where would that kind of madness end?

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    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    1. Re:That's insane! by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 2, Funny

      We can't get the Slashdot 'editors' to read the summaries before posting the stories.

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      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill