German court dismisses Google suit

Friday, 8 October 2004

A court in Germany has rejected a legal challenge claiming that search giant Google used trademarked terms in the development of its listings service.
The state court in Hamburg heard that Google Deutschland allegedly used trademarks illicitly from the firm Metaspinner Media in order to sell advertisements.
Software company Metaspinner claimed that when users searched for the company's "Preispiraten," or "Price Pirate," software, which lets users compare prices in online auctions and shops, it would generate advertisements on the search engine.
The company filed a claim against Google in May suggesting that its trademark was being used without permission, allowing other companies to take advantage of the brand name.
Google has also faced similar lawsuits in France and the United States by different firms.