Google has appealed an Indian court decision that found it violated trademark rights by permitting competitors to bid on brand names as advertising keywords. The company argues the ruling will harm consumers and competition, according to documents seen by Reuters.
The May ruling could affect India’s online advertising sector, where Google earned $4.1 billion in gross revenue last year. It also faces multiple antitrust cases there.
Companies bid on search keywords to place ads. Hindware, an Indian bathroom fittings firm, claimed rivals used its brand terms on Google’s platform, causing their sites to rank higher in searches.
The Delhi High Court ruled against Google and ordered it to pay $31,600 in damages plus costs. In its 4,761-page appeal filing, Google stated the decision makes India an outlier globally and could limit consumer choice.
Google said the order diverges from Indian legal precedents and that its policies support competition. The appeal hearing is scheduled soon.
If upheld, the ruling may change how online ads function, experts say. Justice Mini Pushkarna wrote that Google cannot avoid responsibility for tools enabling infringement. Google maintains keywords serve only as internal triggers for ads.
