Google agrees to pay $11 million to suspended AdSense account owners
Google has agreed to create an $11 million fund in a class action lawsuit alleging the termination or suspension of a publisher’s Adsense accounts, but without paying out any balances the publisher had at the time.
The Class Action Complaint The complaint, filed by a California company called Free Range Content, Inc., alleged that Google would close an Adsense account just before a payment was made and then refuse the publisher the balance owed on the account.
2. The AdSense program enjoys enormous popularity. This popularity means that AdSense publishers have to pay billions of dollars annually – Google’s parlance for publishers hosting its ads. However, as the plaintiff and many other publishers have found, Google often closes AdSense accounts just before a periodic payment is due, and then refuses the publisher the entire expected payment, notwithstanding any ads the publisher has already served to visitors to its site during the payment period .
3. This practice has led to numerous fierce complaints, which are detailed in various places on the Internet. For example, one AdSense publisher, who describes himself as a publisher, stated: “It’s a well-known fact among SEOs that AdSense tends to be deactivated a few days before the supposed payout.” I didn’t lose a large amount – only $2,000 , but I know one person who lost $40,000. It was all legitimate traffic coming directly from Google itself, no click fraud, no purchased traffic etc. PS: I used AdSense from 2008 to 2013 – over 5 years so it’s not like it just blocked new users .”1
Although the plaintiffs ultimately believe they won the case, they admitted it Comparison that they “acknowledge that Google has objected to both liability and damages, which created a significant risk that plaintiffs would not have prevailed.”
Google, on the other hand, “has at all times denied – and continues to deny – any alleged wrongdoing.” In particular, Google denies that its conduct in relation to Google AdSense violates any law and stands ready to continue its vigorous defense, including against the summary judgment and legal proceedings. Nonetheless, considering the uncertainties and risks associated with summary judgment and trial, Google has determined that continuing to defend this lawsuit would be burdensome and expensive.”
Realizing that this case could have gone either way, both the plaintiff and Google both felt it was in the best interest to reach a settlement rather than proceed with the case, which would be costly.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, an $11 million fund will be established, with no more than $5,000 being paid to class representatives, no more than $2,750,000 to class action attorneys, and attorneys paying $116,045 for costs and expenses are reimbursed. The remainder of the money will be used to pay peer group members whose accounts have been terminated or suspended by Adsense and have not been paid their current balance.
The amount of the payment depends on various criteria
The amount of money paid out to a claimant depends on the payment group under which they would fall. This depends on whether the dispute resolution was sent in a timely manner, when the cancellation was made and which Adsense agreement his account was bound by. For “Payment Group 1” the publisher would receive 100% of the balance, “Payment Group 2” would receive 50% and “Payment Group 3” would receive 30%.
The minimum amount that can be claimed is US$3.00 and any remaining distributions will be distributed as a “Cy Pres” award, the use of which is proposed Public Justice Foundation And Public Advocate.
For those whose Adsense accounts have been canceled or deactivated by Google and whose balance has not been paid, you can visit the http://www.adsensepublishersettlement.com/ Website to submit a claim.
Should Google’s actions be considered criminal?
Some are also concerned that Google’s crackdown has no consequences.
For example a user on Hacker News was amazed that such an action would not be considered a criminal offense. Terminating an account for violating policy is one thing, but taking your money is another thing entirely.
After posting this story, Report of bad packages pointed out one old pastebin post from 2014, allegedly by a Google employee who stated that these bans were an attempt by Google to increase revenue. Whether this post is true or not is unknown and may be entirely fabricated, but it is an interesting read.
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