Google launched SearchGuard in early 2025 as an anti-bot system designed to limit automated access to Google Search results. Later that year, Google sued SerpApi in federal court in California, claiming SerpApi used automated tools to access search results and bypass SearchGuard.
Google brought the case under the DMCA, a copyright law focused on technical measures protecting copyrighted works. SerpApi then asked the court to dismiss the complaint.
This week, the court granted SerpApi’s motion to dismiss and dismissed Google’s current DMCA claims. The ruling is an important development for responsible public web data collection.
For ordinary search results with no copyrighted content, Google’s DMCA theory failed. Public search results made up of uncopyrighted information do not become DMCA-protected works because a platform adds anti-bot technology. On this point, Google’s claims were dismissed without leave to amend.
One narrow issue remains open. Google has a limited window to amend claims tied to search results containing copyrighted material, such as licensed images in Knowledge Panels. To move forward, Google must plead facts showing copyright owners authorized Google to to protect those works via SearchGuard.
ARDC will continue to monitor the case. We support responsible collection of public web data, with clear governance, transparency, documentation, and safeguards against misuse. Public web data access should not depend on whether access occurs through manual browser use or an automated tool.