A San Francisco court has ruled that Google can do as it pleases with its search results, stating that the search giant's methods of arranging them qualifies as free speech.
The issue came about when a website called CoastNews argued that Google put its website down below search results from Yahoo and Bing as a way to avoid competition, according to The Telegraph.
The Mountain View, California-based company would respond with an "anti-SLAPP" motion, a regulation that can be used to challenge lawsuits that intend to stifle rights related to free speech.
San Francisco Judge Ernest Goldsmith said Google is allowed to arrange its search results however it wants, as permitted by the First Amendment, Ars Technica reported.
"Defendant has met its burden of showing that the claims asserted against it arise from constitutionally protected activity," Goldsmith said.
The ruling comes at a time when European courts are handling regulations with Google's search results much differently than courts in the U.S., such as with "right to be forgotten" laws that give European citizens the right to request certain search results about them be removed.
Regulators in Europe are also dealing with Google's alleged anti-competitive practices by forcing the search giant to show ads from rival companies in prominent spots, Gigaom reported. Yelp, Travelocity and other companies have accused Google of using its control over search results for the benefit of its own websites, no matter how it affects rivals.
While the San Francisco court's decision may not make rival companies happy, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt argued recently that more consumers are going to Amazon and social media to find information, which could have an impact on the significance of search results.
