Google Appeals Delhi High Court Trademark Keyword Ruling

Google is appealing a Delhi High Court ruling that held the company liable for trademark infringement by permitting competitors to bid on a third-party trademark as a keyword in its advertising system. The May 22, 2026 decision involved Indian sanitaryware maker Hindware and ordered Google to pay damages of approximately $31,600 plus costs. The court found that Google's policies enabled unauthorized use of the mark, diverging from prior Indian precedents according to the company.

In its appeal filings reviewed by Reuters, Google argued the ruling would harm consumers by limiting competitive advertising options and that its AdWords practices align with standard industry approaches facilitating market competition. The appeal is scheduled for hearing in the coming days. The case has drawn attention from Indian businesses concerned about potential shifts in online advertising practices and keyword bidding policies.

The dispute centers on whether search engine operators bear responsibility when third parties purchase trademarked terms to display rival ads. Google's position emphasizes established legal norms in India that have previously shielded such platforms from direct liability in similar contexts.