Delhi High Court Rules Google Accountable for Allowing Competitors to Bid on Trademarked Names

The Delhi High Court has determined that Google infringed on trademark rights by permitting rivals to bid on the 'Hindware' brand name as an advertising keyword. This ruling clarified that Google's usual safe-harbor protections do not extend to this practice. The decision challenges the common notion in search advertising that platforms can auction off any term, including protected brand names, without legal consequences.