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online advertising, brian kabateck, google, lawsuits

The little blank box that got Google sued

When Google advertisers sign up for AdWords they encounter two adjacent boxes. The first asks how much the advertiser is willing to pay per click for ads in Google search results. The second, labeled optional, asks how much the advertiser is willing to pay per click for ads on third party networks. If you leave the second box blank, Google assumes you'd pay the same price that you entered into the first box. Lawyer Brian Kabateck calls that a false assumption and he's filed a federal class action lawsuit in San Jose seeking damages.

4:40 PM on Tue Apr 22 2008
By Nicholas Carlson
2,133 views
3 comments

Comments

raincoaster at 05:00 PM on 04/22/08
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Or C) All of the above.
deathbychichi at 05:28 PM on 04/22/08
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Yeah that's lame. Rather than it being a lawsuit, they should just fix it. Should have fixed it a while ago. Don't be evil, indeed.
Cliff_Donner at 09:41 PM on 04/22/08
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Well I know NOTHING about Google, advertising on the web, or internet law. Plus, I haven't looked anywhere beyond the information that's posted on this blog. I DO know that it's possible to sue anybody, anywhere, for anything. Simply filing a lawsuit doesn't necessarily imbue anyone's position with credibility.

Why does this story obscure what is possibly an important bit of info -- the "Default CPC bid" minimum --with a giant red arrow?

Again, I admittedly know nothing of this topic. Assuming that, to savants, the differences between these 2 boxes is completely understandable -- what would be your default expectation if you left the second box blank? -- Not sarcastic, a serious question. (Also agreeing, Google should explicitly state what this is if it is not readily obvious.)