Google Sued for Alleged Fraud on Its Content Network
A class action lawsuit was recently filed against Google claiming that the search engine misleads advertisers by setting their AdWords accounts to pay for clicks on Google's content network by default. While Google does automatically opt users into advertising on the content network, there is an opportunity to opt out when setting up an account today--though I can't verify that the same options were available when the claimant felt he was defrauded. The suit goes on to complain that the content network generates poor ROI for all of its users, which will likely be difficult to prove. For more information on the lawsuit, read the full complaint.
Google Now Tabloid Material?
Continuing with the legal theme, Google has won a lawsuit brought by one Dylan Stephen Jayne. In the suit, Jayne alleged that his Social Security number, when turned upside down, is a scrambled code that spells the name Google. Suffice it to say that after several appeals all the way up to the U.S. District Court, the suit was thrown out. I guess Jayne never heard that a "googol" was the digit one followed by one hundred zeroes back in grade school math class and that number was part of the inspiration for the name.
Yahoo! and Microsoft Continue to Name-Drop
If Microsoft and Yahoo! are to be believed, everyone wants in on their deal. In recent weeks, Yahoo! has claimed to be in talks with Time Warner to combine its business with AOL. Meanwhile, Microsoft, not to be out name-dropped, has been reported to be in talks with News Corp. to make a combined bid for Yahoo!. This all comes amidst news that Yahoo! has signed a deal with Google to test Google search ads on Yahoo! search results pages. At this time, Medium Blue would like to state unequivocally that it will not be bidding for Yahoo!, but we might reconsider if Yahoo! asks nicely.
Is Your ISP Spying on You?
According to the Washington Post, two ad vendors, Front Porch and NebuAd, are using packet sniffing technology to track the online activity of Internet users. The vendors have formed partnerships with undisclosed ISPs and serve ads to their customers based on an analysis of the packet sniffing data. ISPs and their advertising partners then pay for impressions when the IP address of a visitor coincides with one of the ISPs customers. Sounds pretty sketchy, but ISPs Wide Open West and Embarq both seem to be considering the tactic since they changed their terms of service to permit such activity recently.
Microsoft's Deadline for Yahoo! Passes
Microsoft's April 26 deadline for Yahoo! to approve its $42.7 billion bid has passed with no new word from either company. In recent weeks, Microsoft has stated that it might lower its bid and/or take the bid to the Yahoo! shareholders. Microsoft could accomplish that by nominating board members for Yahoo!'s board of directors--all of whom are up for reelection. More updates next month as this saga continues.