Search   Advanced Search
LATEST NEWS
 
 
News
 Latest Headlines
 Quick Facts
 Breaking News
 Top Stories
 Feature Articles
 Politics
 US Policy
 General
 Commodities
 Canadian
 UK
 Indian
 Wallstreet Events
 Slide Shows
 US Economic News
 European Economic News
 Asian Economic News
 All Economic News
 FX Top Stories
 Currency Alerts
 Mkt Sensitive News
 Politics
 European Mkt Updates
 Asian Mkt Updates
 Treasury Mkt Updates
 Pop
 Rock
 Classic Rock
 Rap/Hip-Hop
 Country
 Alternative
 Oldies
 Movie Reviews
 DVD Releases
 Box Office
 Slide Shows
 Business News
Commentary/Analysis
 Daily Market Analysis
 US Market Updates
 US Commentary
 Asian Commentary
 European Commentary
 Canadian Commentary
 Indian Commentary
 Sector/Market Trends
Stock Alerts
 Stocks To Watch
 Long Term Stocks
 Before the Bell
 $5 and Under
 After the Bell
 Intraday Updates
 IPOs
 Hot Stocks
Earnings Calendars
 Upcoming Earnings
 Latest Earnings
 Pos Pre Announcements
 Neg Pre Announcements
Corporate Calendars
 Stock Splits
 Stock Buybacks
 Dividends
 Conference Calls
 FDA Calendar
 Board Meetings
 Mergers & Acquisitions
Ratings Changes
 Upgrades
 Downgrades
 Coverage Initiations
 Coverage Reiterated
 All Videos
 Market Commentary
 Top Stories
 Economic News
 Political News
 Foreign Markets
 Corporate News
 Entertainment News
 Top Stories
 Earnings
 Mergers & Acquisitions
 Market Commentary
 Economic News
 IPOs and New Issues
 Corporate News
 Forex News
 Interviews
 Private Equity
Economic Calendar
RTT DeskAlert
CES 2010 Coverage 

Follow Us
RTTNews on Twitter RTTNews on Facebook RTTNews on MySpace RTTNews on YouTube

Font Down Font Up

 
Google Wins Ruling In UK Defamation Suit - Update
7/20/2009 11:31 PM  ET
RELATED NEWS
Google Closed At Lowest Level Since Early November Friday
China Says Hacking Charge Unfounded - Update
China Denies Involvement In Hacking; Defends Censorship
Reports: Free Speech Group Wants U.S. To Invoke WTO Treaties To Contest China's Internet Censorship
Reports: Google Inc.'s YouTube Is Discussing Online Rentals With Film Studios, Artists

Trade GOOG now with
TOP MARKET NEWS
Baidu Q4 Profit Up 48.2%; Guides Q1 Revenue Above Estimates
IMS Health Profit Declines 27%
Cerner Earnings Decline, Top Estimates
Disney Profit Tops Estimate
XL Capital Posts Narrower Loss In Q4 - Update
(RTTNews) -  Internet and search engine giant Google Inc. (GOOG: News ) won a ruling in a defamation case in the U.K. brought in by an online education provider, after a judge ruled that Google is not responsible for allegedly defamatory online comments that appeared in its Internet search results.

In a ruling made last week, Justice Eady said that Google's automated search engine trawls the Web and indexes content without any human input. Google cannot "be regarded as a publisher of the words complained of," the judge said.

The case was initiated by Luton, England-based Metropolitan International Schools Ltd., an online trading company that operates Train2Game computer games courses. The company sued Google over comments posted on Web forums that had accused it of running a scam, an allegation that was denied by Metropolitan International, according to the judgment.

Metropolitan International Schools sued Google for publicizing the claims through its search results, although the Web forums did not belong to Google. In its defense, Google argued it should not be held responsible for the content of the 39 billion Web pages available on the Internet.

Justice Eady noted that Google is merely a conduit to the information and not a publisher in its own right. He ruled that Google's Internet search engine is not considered a publisher under defamation law, and therefore is not responsible for the content of the short descriptions of Web sites that appear in Google searches. He also ruled that there is "no reasonable prospect of success" and dismissed the suit.
The decision, the first of its kind in Britain, is seen as consistent with court decisions in several other European countries. In the United States, search engines are protected from liability for the contents of the results they turn up.

Following the ruling, Google said in a statement, "We are pleased with this result, which reinforces the principle that search engines aren't responsible for content that is published on third party websites. Mr. Justice Eady made clear if someone feels they have been defamed by material on a Web site then they should address their complaint to the person who actually wrote and published the material, and not a search engine, which simply provides a searchable index of content on the Internet."

GOOG closed Monday's regular trading session on the Nasdaq at $430.17, down $0.08 or 0.02% on a volume of 3.15 million shares.

To receive FREE breaking news email alerts for Google Inc. and others in your portfolio


by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com


Share Article:   Del.icio.us    Digg    Y! My Web    Facebook    My Space

Email        Print           Follow Us RTTNews on Facebook RTTNews on MySpace RTTNews on YouTube

     
 

More Breaking News-US

103  Dionex Q2 Profit Down, Guides Q3, Revises FY10 Outlook - Update
102  HNI Slips To Loss In Q4 - Update
101  Terreno Realty Prices 8.75 Mln Common Shares IPO At $20/share - Update
100  RenaissanceRe Holdings Swings To Profit In Q4 - Update
99  Aspen Insurance Holdings Q4 Profit Surges, Tops View - Update
98  Gildan Activewear Q1 Profit Surges; Backs FY10 Outlook - Update
97  Max Capital Group Swings To Q4 Profit - Update
96  Airgas Rejects Air Products' Hostile Takeover Bid - Update
95  American Financial Group Q4 Profit Rises, Tops Estimate, Lifts FY10 Earnings View - Update
94  Seattle Genetics Posts Narrower Q4 Loss - Update
93  AspenTech Swings To Q2 Loss - Update
92  Corrections Corp. Q4 Profit Rises - Update
91  Kforce Swings To Profit In Q4; Guides Q1 - Update
90  RealNetworks, MTV To Spin Off Rhapsody - Update
89  Netgear Turns To Profit In Q4 - Update
  

 

Copyright © 2010 RTTNews. All rights reserved. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Service.

Feedback| Terms of Service| How To Use RTTNews.com| Advertise| Privacy| Buy Content | RSS