Delhi HC to examine Google advertising terms

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has said that it will examine whether the terms of Google’s advertising programme unjustly restricts advertisers from seeking legal remedies or opting for arbitration within India.

Justice Pratibha M. Singh was hearing a plea filed by Startupwala Private Limited against Google India Private Limited, challenging the conditions under which their digital advertisements were disapproved or labelled as 'Limited'. Startupwala’s legal action, invoking Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, demands that Google India reinstate all the company's digital advertisements disapproved or marked as 'Limited' in December 2023 and January 2024.

Additionally, it seeks to prevent Google from disapproving any remaining ads under the same classification.

The contention revolves around the disapproval of Startupwala’s advertisements based on Google's 'Government Documents and Official Services' policy. Startupwala argues against Clause 13 of the Advertisement Terms, which mandates arbitration in Santa Clara County, California, USA.