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ARTICLE · 20 JUNE 2014

Can’t Search This: B.C. Court Grants Global Restraining Order Against Google

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On June 13, 2014, the British Columbia Supreme Court ordered Google Inc. to remove all of a company’s websites from its search results

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Joe McArthur
Joe McArthur
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On June 13, 2014, the British Columbia Supreme Court ordered Google Inc. to remove all of a company's websites from its search results. Equustek Solutions Inc. v. Jack (Equustek) marks the first time a Canadian court has ever made such an order, which resulted in an injunction against a non-party that will have global ramifications. The case follows in the footsteps of European decisions, also involving Google, where courts have been asked to assume jurisdiction over Google's search services and order the removal of impermissible results.

BACKGROUND

The plaintiffs in Equustek manufactured computer networking devices. They claimed that the defendants in the main action stole trade secrets while working for the plaintiffs and used these trade secrets to develop and sell their own products online. The defendants had flagrantly disobeyed various court orders since the commencement of the main action, including an order prohibiting them from carrying on business online.

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