Google facing trademark infringement cases

Search company, Google, is being sued by a loans company in the United States over trademark infringement allegations.The lawsuit, filed by CNG Financial, is challenging Google's advertising services and claims that the company is breaking trademark law through its use of keyword searches.

Cincinnati-based CNG operates a chain of Check 'n Go stores, which provide payday loans, via its subsidiaries. The company claims that the phrase 'check n go' is sold by Google to advertisers whose adverts appear when it is typed into the search engine. CNG filed a suit in an Ohio federal court on January 24th, accusing Google of "misappropriation" of the trademark and potentially misleading consumers looking for the Check 'n Go website.

The landmark case represents the first time that a US federal court will address the sale of trademarked keywords and the ruling could dramatically affect the profits of search engines. Google settled a similar case out of court in 2004, after insurer Geico filed a lawsuit in Virginia over trademark infringement claims. A French court ruled in 2005 that Google must not sell trademarks of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts as keywords.