LI Network
Published on: January 25, 2024 at 13:17 IST
The Delhi High Court has directed Google to suspend URLs associated with various Google Forms that falsely invite the public to apply for a ‘Starbucks Franchise.’
Justice Anish Dayal issued the directive in response to a suit filed by Starbucks against unidentified entities posing as its franchisees.
Starbucks, emphasizing that it does not operate on a franchise model in India, sought the suspension of URLs linked to deceptive Google Forms.
Justice Dayal granted Starbucks the authority to file an affidavit listing similar URLs, and Google is expected to suspend those links upon receiving the information.
The Court noted that fraudulent forms with headings like ‘StarBucks franchise’ misled individuals into believing they could apply for Starbucks franchises in India. Starbucks had previously secured an interim injunction in its favor in April of the preceding year.
The Court expressed concern over impostors misusing Google Forms to gather information related to a nonexistent Starbucks franchise in India. It stressed the impropriety of seeking private information and data from the general public through such deceptive means.
“In the opinion of this Court, the plaintiffs would be entitled to the relief they seek in this application, on account of not only that these Google Forms are being posted by imposters in order to elicit information relating to Starbucks franchise (which do not exist in India) as well as seeking private information and data from the general public, which cannot be countenanced,” the Court noted.
Justice Dayal concluded that if Google has concerns about specific URLs, they can respond to Starbucks and, if necessary, approach the court for further adjudication and relief.