Google has agreed to create a fund of 11 million dollars as part of a a class action settlement for terminating or disabling a publisher's Adsense accounts, but not paying out any balances that the publisher had at the time.

The class action complaint filed by a California company named Free Range Content, Inc. alleged that Google would shut down an Adsense account shortly before a payment was to be made and then deny the publisher the balance owed on the account.



2. The AdSense program is enormously popular. This popularity translates annually to billions of dollars payable to AdSense publishers – Google’s parlance for website operators that host its ads. But as the plaintiff and many other publishers have found, Google often shuts down AdSense accounts shortly before a periodic payment is due and then denies the publisher the entirety of the expected payment, notwithstanding all the ads the publisher already has served to visitors to its website during the payment period.

3. This practice has sparked numerous bitter complaints detailed at various places on the web. For example, one self-described AdSense publisher stated the following: “It’s common knowledge among SEOs that AdSense tends to be disabled a few days before the supposed payout. I haven't lost any big sum – only $2000 but I know one person that lost $40,000. It was all legitimate traffic coming straight from Google themselves, no click fraud no bought traffic etc. PS: I was using AdSense from 2008 to 2013 – over 5 years so it’s not like only new users got banned.”1

While the Plaintiffs ultimately feel they would have won the case, they also acknowledged in the settlement agreement that they "recognize that Google raised defenses as to both liability and damages, which created a material risk that Plaintiffs would not have prevailed."

Google on the other hand has "has at all times denied—and continues to deny—any and all alleged wrongdoing. Specifically, Google denies that its conduct concerning Google AdSense violates any law, and it is prepared to continue its vigorous defense, including at summary judgment and trial. Even so, taking into account the uncertainty and risks inherent in summary judgment and trial, Google has concluded that continuing to defend this Action would be burdensome and expensive."

With both the plaintiff and Google recognizing that this case could have gone either way, they both felt it was in the best interests to settle rather than continue what would be an expensive case.

As part of the settlement agreement an 11 million dollar fund will be created, with no more than $5,000 being paid to Class Representatives, no more than $2,750,000 being paid to the class action lawyers, and $116,045 reimbursed to the lawyers for costs and expenses. The rest of the money will be used to pay Settlement Class Members whose accounts were terminated or disabled by Adsense and were not paid the current balance of their accounts.
Amount of payment is based on various criteria

The amount of money that a claimant will be paid depends on the payment group they would fall under, which is based on whether a notice of dispute was sent in a timely manner, when they were terminated, and what Adsense agreement their 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 $3.00 and any remaining distributions will be distributed as a “cy pres” award, which is proposed to go to Public Justice Foundation and Public Counsel.


For those who have had their Adsense accounts terminated or disabled by Google and were not paid the balance, you can visit the http://www.adsensepublishersettlement.com/ site to submit a claim.
Should Google's actions be considered criminal?

Some are also concerned about the heavy handed actions of Google and their actions having no consequences.



For example, a user on Hacker News was baffled that an action like this would not be considered a criminal act. Terminating an account for breaking policy is one thing, but taking their money is another thing altogether.

After posting this story, Bad Packets Report pointed us towards an old Pastebin post from 2014, which was supposedly from a Google employee that stated that these bans were an attempt by Google to increase earnings. Whether or not this post is true is not known and could be completely fabricated, but it does make for an interesting read.

Full details at http://akelicious..com.ng/2018/05/google-agrees-to-pay-11-million-to.html

Goodnews for we bloggers!

Wow

No saint anywhere

Google is big enough to know which adsense dollar or cent comes from click fraud and which isn't.. If they're terminating a publisher account for click fraud, then they should simply pay the legitimately earned sum after subtracting the click fraud proceeds. If they want to ban the account thereafter, no problem. As long as they pay their due.

And if it's merely a matter of TOS violation, then fine, terminating the account is understandable. But withholding accumulated earnings along with account termination is a no no. I don't understand how this was even allowed to continue for so long.

Wow. one of the best news this year.

Seun

Seun

Seun

E no go......

Dont leme talk. Just got back from a ban.

Street ti take over

Lalas247, I hope your account was suspended too?

Great news!

Good news, I've lost over 40 adsense accounts.

enoch273:
Good news, I've lost over 40 adsense accounts.

Your village people don finally accept your burnt offering.

Wayo Google. Google na porn star

enoch273:
Good news, I've lost over 40 adsense accounts.

So you think you'll be paid for all?

Ok

Wiw

Hnmmm

Karidqueen:
Goodnews for we bloggers!

U SAY WAT....?

Na from which year dem dey start to pay

Karidqueen:
Goodnews for we bloggers!

how's that good news?
Illegal activities will only increase

wow na big money be DAT o

but there r some people doing click fraud to increase earnings I know dem and they have not been banned

Nnaabros:

So you think you'll be paid for all?

how much do you think they will pay per account ban?

JixNation:
Your village people don finally accept your burnt offering.

no be lie o baba.

Things are making more sense now

Verified and Un-verified UK and Naija Adsense are available for sale. Check my signature and contant me

Good news indeed.....


I am a writer, incase you need a writer kindly check my signature....Shalom

Karidqueen:
Goodnews for we bloggers!

please how is it good news to bloggers?

JixNation:

Your village people don finally accept your burnt offering.

Not bad at all

enoch273:

how much do you think they will pay per account ban?

I have no idea. But I think its what you had in the account before the ban. And I don't even think this applies to account that were legitimately banned. Only those that were banned for no good reason