Law Firm Sues Google Over Use of Name in AdWords

From the Conn. Law Tribune: Stratton Faxon, a prominent plaintiff's personal injury firm, filed suit against Google in New Haven Superior Court yesterday, claiming that the search engine giant "improperly sold advertising rights to the Stratton Faxon name. The complaint alleges tortious interference with a business relationship, violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, and unjust enrichment, on grounds that Google paid nothing for selling the firm name." Stratton Faxon seeks a $50,000 pre-judgment lien against Google, and an injunction "to prevent Google from selling Connecticut law firm names as so-called adwords." The Tribune notes that "the suit is part of a national trend" by which other companies "have taken legal action against Google after searching for their own business name and finding, to their dismay, an ad for a competitor listed first."