A California judge has dismissed a website's lawsuit
against Google over its fall in the Google search
index.
KinderStart, which is a directory and search engine for
information related to children, had sued Google after it fell to a
"zero" ranking in the Google search index.
The lawsuit claimed that by lowering KinderStart's site in the
Google PageRank system, Google had engaged in "pervasive
monopolistic practices".
This had allegedly led to the denial of the site's free speech
rights, prevention and destruction of competition, and predatory
pricing.
Following its drop in search ranking, traffic and monthly page
views to KinderStart's website fell around 70%, and the company's
revenue from advertisements through Google's AdSense syndication
programme fell by more than 80%, stated the lawsuit.
The judge however dismissed all the claims, stating they were
insufficient or failed to allege facts or conduct to support them,
or that they were too vague.
The judge did however dismiss some of the claims against Google
"with leave to amend," meaning that KinderStart can modify and
re-file these complaints as part of a further legal action.
Google said it was pleased with the ruling, and KinderStart said
it intended to table a new lawsuit with re-filed complaints.
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