TechDirt: European Court To Review Whether Google Can Sell Ads On Trademarked Terms:

While US courts have (mostly) finally realized that simply selling search terms based on someone else’s trademarked name should not make Google liable, French courts haven’t been so enlightened. The huge fashion retailer Louis Vuitton won a lawsuit against Google, because some advertisers had purchased search ads on the term “Louis Vuitton” to advertise “Louis Vuitton Fakes” and “Louis Vuitton Replicas.” It’s hard to see the common sense reasoning to support LV in this case. In fact, the ruling seems problematic on two separate accounts — both on the question of whether this was a trademark violation and whether it’s Google who should be liable even if it is a trademark violation.

Also: NY Times: “Google and Louis Vuitoon Face Off in Trademark Spat”