Google agrees to pay 11 million USD in a settlement with terminated Adsense publishers

Free Range Content reached a settlement with Google, where terminated publishers, between May 20, 2010 and May 7, 2018 will be compensated by Google. Google agreed to pay $11 million to owners of suspended AdSense accounts. Terminated publishers with the sum withheld totaled $10 or more are entitled to the settlement after submitting their claim here.

“Free Range Content allege that when Google terminated AdSense publishers for alleged breach of contract, it improperly withheld unpaid amounts in those publishers’ accounts. The allegations against Google include, among other things, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Google denies these claims,” written Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, on behalf of Free Range Content, Inc. v. Google LLC.

According to the terms of the case, the settlement covers United States, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the United States Minor Outlying Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Canada. Publishers who do not present a claim, will not receive any payment, and will lose the right to sue Google and/or any other released entities regarding the legal claims in this case.

The attorneys representing the Settlement Class will ask a payment around 25% of the gross settlement fund. Until now they have not received any payment for their legal services or any reimbursement of the costs or out-of-pocket expenses they have incurred.

Why Google terminates Adsense accounts?

According to Google, the top reasons for Adsense account terminations are:

• Publishers clicking the ads on their own website, app or Youtube channel;
• One or more users repeatedly clicking the ads of a website, like asking friends, family, or co-workers to click on the ads;
• Generating or receiving automated or bot traffic;
• Using an incentivized traffic source;
• Manipulating how ads are served;
• Encouraging users to support your site, YouTube channel, or app through ad interaction;
• Ad placement deceptive for users or generating accidental clicks;
• Ads embedded in applications;
• Pornographic, adult, or mature content;
• Violating webmaster guidelines (quality content);
• Deceptive ad placement;
• Copyright infringement;
• Illegal content.

John Brown, “aka the AdSense guy”, head of publisher policy communications at Google, has been creating multiple videos about Adsense policy.