Google Gets Favorable ECJ Opinion, But Will It Prove to Be a Hollow Victory?
23 03 2010By Eric Goldman
The European Court of Justice issued its long-anticipated decision in the three Google AdWords cases (C-236/08, C-237-08 and C-238/08) referred to it by the French Cour de Cassation. The ruling only answers the questions posed to it by the Cour de Cassation, so in that sense it does not provide a blanket resolution of keyword advertising legitimacy in Europe. Nevertheless, all three answers by the ECJ are favorable to Google and other keyword advertising vendors—although, as I explore below, litigatable questions remain.
In broad strokes, the ECJ adopted Google’s position that it merely provides technology services to advertisers who make legally significant judgments using the technology. For example, the ECJ says that advertisers, not Google, make the requisite trademark “use,” and Google can qualify as a web host of its advertisers’ content—and thus is eligible for the associated safe harbor—if it remains sufficiently passive.
While these rulings improve Google’s legal position against trademark owners, the news isn’t uniformly good for the keyword advertising industry. The opinion identifies a number of potential legal pitfalls for keyword advertisers. We may learn more about these pitfalls from the other trademark owner-v.-advertiser cases pending before the ECJ. My understanding is that 5 such cases are pending, with one ruling coming on Thursday. Based on the language in this opinion, I think it’s probable that the subsequent ECJ rulings will show that keyword advertisers face significant legal exposure when buying competitive keyword advertising.
As a result, Google’s legal victory may prove to be a little hollow. Even if Google eventually earns a clean bill of health for itself, it could still see revenue contraction if advertisers are dissuaded by their legal exposure.
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