Google Sues SerpApi for Alleged Search Scraping

In a significant legal action, Google has filed a lawsuit against SerpApi, alleging the company systematically bypassed technological protections to scrape search results and licensed content. The complaint, filed in a California federal court, centers on claims that SerpApi developed sophisticated methods to evade Google’s SearchGuard system, a measure designed to block automated data extraction. This case stands out because it is built primarily on anti-circumvention claims under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), rather than simpler breaches of terms of service.

Google’s legal argument hinges on Section 1201 of the DMCA, which prohibits circumventing technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. The company is pursuing two specific claims: one for the act of circumvention itself and another for “trafficking” in services or technology designed to bypass such protections. Google contends that SerpApi’s actions involve sending “hundreds of millions” of artificial search requests daily by creating networks of fake browsers and misrepresenting request attributes like device type and location. The lawsuit seeks statutory damages, which could range from $200 to $2,500 per violation, and a court order to permanently halt the alleged activities.

A critical aspect of the complaint goes beyond simple search engine results page (SERP) data. Google emphasizes that its search results contain licensed copyrighted content, such as photographs in Knowledge Panels, product images in Shopping listings, and third-party imagery in Maps. Google argues that SerpApi scrapes this protected material without permission and resells it to customers, thereby depriving original rights holders of compensation. This focus on licensed content strengthens the DMCA angle, as the law specifically guards against circumventing access controls to copyrighted material.

For professionals in search engine optimization and digital marketing, this lawsuit could have substantial implications. Many SEO tools, especially those used by smaller businesses or for custom internal dashboards, rely on third-party APIs like SerpApi for rank tracking and competitive intelligence. Google is seeking an injunction that could disrupt access to a key source of automated SERP data, potentially creating a single point of failure for tools dependent on such services. Larger vendors with their own data collection infrastructure may be less affected, but the case highlights the legal risks associated with scraping protected systems.

This legal action occurs within a broader context of increasing litigation over web scraping and data reuse. Notably, Reddit also sued SerpApi and other entities last year over similar allegations. Furthermore, the case unfolds alongside ongoing antitrust proceedings against Google, which examine the company’s control over search distribution. While the antitrust case deals with market dominance, this new lawsuit focuses on the technical and legal boundaries of automated data access, together forming a complex debate about platform control.

Initial reactions on social media have speculated about wide-ranging impacts, with some suggesting it threatens AI products that depend on accessing Google data. However, Google’s filing is narrowly targeted at SerpApi’s alleged circumvention of SearchGuard. In response, SerpApi has stated it will defend itself vigorously, framing the lawsuit as an attempt to stifle competition from companies building innovative AI applications. The next steps will involve the court evaluating whether SearchGuard qualifies as a DMCA-protected access control. The outcome may hinge on whether the system is seen as a copyright protection measure or merely a bot-management tool, a distinction that will shape the future of data scraping and access.

(Source: Search Engine Journal)