Google sues website over click fraud

Google is taking a small website to court for attempting to fiddle its AdSense program. The program provides publishers with advertising based on keywords. When someone clicks on an advert Google pays the publisher for delivering the viewer to their site. So called "click fraud" is an increasing problem as pay-per-click advertising continues to grow.

Google has filed suit in the Superior Court of Santa Clara against Auctions Expert International, accusing the Texas-based firm of faking the number of clicks on its adverts. This can be done by software or by hiring a bunch of students to click on the relevant advert. Google wants the return of money it has already paid the firm, and damages.

Auctions Expert joined Google's ad program in August 2003 but Google terminated the contract after discovering the alleged misconduct. According to Google's complaint, Auctions Expert set up the website with the sole intention of generating false clicks, CNET reports.

Google said in a statement that the case showed the success of its anti-fraud processes.

More details on eweek.com here. ®

Related stories

Google shares fall on less-than-stellar growth fears
Developers finger Google's text service
Google shafts blogger, adds gagging clause to Adsense