---
title: "The Indian court's ruling on Google's keyword advertising may reshape the landscape of online advertising"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/288133030.md"
description: "The Delhi High Court in India ruled that Google allowing competitors to use \"Hindware\" as an advertising keyword infringes trademark rights and must pay $31,600 in damages. This ruling could reshape the online advertising market and has garnered widespread support from the business community, which sees it as a new avenue for brand protection. Google stated that it will respond through legal procedures as appropriate"
datetime: "2026-05-30T04:35:35.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/288133030.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/288133030.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/288133030.md)
---

# The Indian court's ruling on Google's keyword advertising may reshape the landscape of online advertising

Indian companies stated on Friday that an Indian court ruled that Google allowed competitors to use its name as advertising keywords, thereby infringing on the trademark rights of a bathroom fittings manufacturer, a decision that could reshape the online advertising market.

The Delhi High Court made the ruling on May 22, ordering Google to pay $31,600 in damages, which has since drawn responses from the business community.

Google stated in a statement that its operations "fully comply with local laws, and if the scope of the ruling is too broad or inconsistent with our policies, we will clarify our position through legal procedures."

The court noted that Google allowed competitors of India's Hindware company to use "Hindware" as a keyword for targeted advertising.

The ruling stated: "The way Google implements its AdWords policy indicates that Google sold or auctioned the use of the trademark without obtaining any authorization from the trademark owner..."

On Friday, lawyers, Indian businesses, and brand managers expressed support for the ruling on social media, stating that it would have a significant impact.

Nithin Kamath, founder of Indian brokerage Zerodha, stated that his brand has been troubled by such issues for years, and the ruling "now opens a path for seeking legal remedies."

"You build a brand, others bid on it, and Google profits from the difference," said Anupam Mittal, founder of the Indian matchmaking site Shaadi.com. The ruling "could change the online advertising economic model for millions of businesses."

Google views India as one of its most important markets

### Related Stocks

- [GOOGL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOGL.US.md)
- [GOOG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOG.US.md)
- [GGLS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GGLS.US.md)
- [GGLL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GGLL.US.md)
- [GOOW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOW.US.md)

## Related News & Research

- [Here’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health app](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287794607.md)
- [How marketers are reacting to Google's big search and AI changes](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287766340.md)
- [OpenAI is building a new kind of ad machine. Early data suggests Google should worry.](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287743622.md)
- [Google engineer charged in $1.2M Polymarket insider trading case](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287989478.md)
- [How online sleuthing helped catch the Google Polymarket trader](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287957242.md)