Google's 'Parked Domains' Program Launders Invalid Clicks, Lawsuits Claim

Google faces yet another click fraud lawsuit, this time for alleged fraud in its parked domains program, which serves ads on recently-purchased, but still-empty, websites. Online retailer RK West, which runs MalibuWholesale, claims it purchased ads from Google without receiving notice the ads would appear on parked websites. RK West's complaint alleges Google uses its parked domain program to intentionally serve invalid clicks: Since Google profits from all generated clicks, regardless of validity, [it benefits] by actively hiding source of invalid clicks being charged to its advertisers […] Hiding the source of parked domain clicks launders invalid clicks and makes any claims of invalid clicks from these sites nearly impossible to show. "Invalid" was loosely defined as clicks made by users without genuine purchase intent. A... [read full story]