According to MediaPost.com, another company has filed suit against Google for alleged trademark infringement on AdWords by allowing a competitor Net Nanny to by ads for show users who search for “Cybersitter” on Google.
Cybersitter, a company that sells software to block adult content
“Cybersitter argues that Google’s decision to allow the company’s name to trigger search ads infringes trademark. Cybersitter also says its trademark was infringed by the ad copy for Net Nanny, which sometimes included Cybersitter’s name. For instance, one Net Nanny ad included the statement “Protect your child with #1 rated Cybersitter software.”
“Cybersitter named Net Nanny as well as Google as defendants in the case, which was brought in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.”
“Cybersitter argues that Google and Net Nanny “intentionally and wrongfully used a bait and switch strategy to confuse consumers into purchasing a competing product.””
“A Google spokesperson said: “We believe the claims here are entirely without merit, and we look forward to demonstrating that in court.”
“The appeals court ruled that Rosetta Stone was entitled to a trial about whether Google confuses consumers by allowing a company’s trademarked name to trigger a competitor’s pay-per-click ads.”
