Google's $90m Click-fraud Settlement to be Challenged
Well, many have commented how cheap the settlement deal was for Google; suggesting, as it does, how minimal the click-fraud problem is.
Seems some advertisers agree and have now armed themselves with "click-fraud lawyers" in a bid to challenge the settlement in the same Arkansas court the original agreement was ruled upon.
It's expected to be heard in a two-day hearing starting July 24 2006.
Lawyers representing several Internet search advertisers who use Google's AdWords service have filed suit hoping to block a proposed $90 million settlement over allegations of click fraud. The plaintiffs claim that the settlement does not adequately compensate those affected.
The "click-fraud lawyers" claim that:
Google could legally get away with paying as little as a half percent of total losses. Thus, a $10,000 click-fraud loss could theoretically be settled for as little as a $50 advertising coupon.
Google's response is to suggest that this move is more motivated by "click-fraud lawyer" fees than working in the advertiser's best interests.
For any of you out there that may be affected by this, there's also a website set-up by, wait for it... "click-fraud lawyer", Shawn Khorrami, that claims to help you opt-out of Google's current settlement agreement.
clickfraud-legal-center.com
clickfraud-legal-center.com ... sharp domain name. and the design is confidence inspiring as well. reminds me of these clowns.
agree about the lawyers aaron but...
click fraud is a large ongoing issue. The current settlement is ludicrously trivial in relation to the problem. If it takes lawsuits to make Google and Yahoo tighten up their click auditing, this is one occasion that the litgation disease stifling the United States served a useful purpose.