Judge tosses Google search ranking suit |
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Published
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Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:49
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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Google Inc. abused its position as the Internet's leading search engine by wrongfully banishing dozens of Web sites from its index.In a March 16 ruling, U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel concluded there were insufficient grounds for the case brought by Kinderstart.com to proceed. Fogel also ordered Kinderstart and its lawyer to pay a portion of Google's legal costs.Kinderstart, a Norwalk-based Web site devoted to information about children, sued Google last year after suffering a huge drop in Internet traffic. The suit blamed the setback on an abrupt decision by Google to lower Kinderstart's ranking in its search index.That change was made for no good reason and stifled Kinderstart's freedom of speech, the suit alleged. Kinderstart also alleged a large number of other Web sites had been similarly mistreated.Mountain View-based Google has long argued that its search rankings are a matter of opinion protected by the First Amendment -- a position that has been reinforced by the courts so far.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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