On Holiday Group takes on internet giant
On Holiday Group has entered into what has the potential to be an expensive and lengthy legal battle with search engine giant Google.
The company says it has refused Google’s request to remove from the internet any reference to a ‘Google Bypass’ scheme, which was launched by its brand Holiday Nights as an alternative to pay-per-click adverts on the search engine.
Holiday Nights has already agreed with Google to stop using the name ‘Google Bypass’ for its scheme which encourages its customers to promote Holiday Nights through their social networking accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Instead, Holiday Nights, which promises to pay customers £25 for every booking they receive via their Facebook and Twitter accounts, has renamed the scheme ‘G-Bypass’.
But On Holiday Group says it will not comply with Google’s latest request that it writes to customers warning them that unless they remove any reference to ‘Google Bypass’ on their Facebook and Twitter accounts they will be considered agents of Holiday Nights and face legal action.
Holiday Nights’ head of online sales Rebecca Shipstone said: "This is massive big brother over reaction from Google and clearly shows that they are worried about their users finding out how much of their holiday money Google are taking.
"We have already agreed to change the brand to G-Bypass and have no intention of bothering our customers with such rubbish."
On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott said he did not believe Google had any serious basis for its threats, adding that the name ‘Google Bypass’ was only ever used in emails sent to customers explaining the scheme.
Endacott also questioned how customers were meant to remove posts from Facebook or Twitter even if Holiday Nights did ask them.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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