Google Antitrust Complaint Dismissed

A judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Google customer Kinderstart that accused the search engine in March of "pervasive monopolistic practices." Kinderstart, a Web site and search for parents, filed its suit after receiving a low page ranking that it claims lowered its traffic by 70 percent.

Google has contended in previous cases that its page ranking technology was a form of opinion protected under the right to free speech. Federal Judge Jeremy Fogel wrote in his decision that, "Kinderstart has failed to allege any conduct on the part of Google that significantly threatens or harms competition." Kinderstart will have the opportunity to amend all nine counts of its lawsuit.