Is the Google AdWords settlement still open?

No. The claim deadline for the $7 million Google AdWords invalid activity settlement was August 30, 2022, and it has passed. New claims can no longer be submitted.

What was the Google AdWords settlement about?

Google agreed to pay $7 million to resolve a class action alleging it failed to refund or credit AdWords advertisers for clicks and impressions on DoubleClick Ad Exchange (AdX) publisher sites that Google itself deemed invalid activity. Google denied any wrongdoing.

Who qualified for the Google AdWords settlement?

Google AdWords advertisers subject to the Google Inc. United States terms and conditions who were charged for clicks or impressions on DoubleClick Ad Exchange publisher websites between December 13, 2013 and April 28, 2022, and who had not received a refund or credit for invalid activity, were eligible.

$7M Google AdWords Ads Settlement (Closed)

Q: Was proof required to file a claim?

Yes. Class members had to submit a claim form using the unique ID number the settlement administrator assigned to them, as shown in the email or postcard notice they received.

By Steve Levine

$7 Million Google AdWords Invalid Activity Class Action Settlement

Updated: June 6, 2026

Status Settlement Closed

Claim Deadline August 30, 2022 (Passed)

Estimated Payout Varies pro rata from the $7M fund · based on each advertiser's invalid-activity charges

Proof Required Yes unique ID number from the emailed or mailed notice

What Was This Settlement About?

Google, Inc. (parent company Alphabet, Inc.) agreed to pay $7 million to resolve a class action lawsuit against Google AdWords. The case covered AdWords advertisers who may have been entitled to refunds or credits associated with clicks or impressions for ads they paid for that appeared on DoubleClick Ad Exchange.

The class action alleged that Google did not refund advertisers money paid for clicks and impressions that Google itself deemed "invalid activity." Because the publishers were treated as illegitimate for certain clicks and impressions, the lawsuit argued, the advertisers who paid Google for those clicks and impressions should have been refunded.

Google settled the case but denies any wrongdoing and asserts that it did nothing unlawful. Google stated that its advertising customers have all received the appropriate refunds to which they are entitled.

Who Qualified?

You were part of the settlement class if you were a Google AdWords account holder and advertiser between December 13, 2013 and April 28, 2022 and:

• You were a Google AdWords advertiser whose account was subject to the Google Inc. United States terms and conditions;
• You were charged by Google via AdWords for clicks or impressions on advertisements appearing on DoubleClick Ad Exchange ("AdX") publisher websites at any time during the applicable period; and
• You had not received refunds or credits from Google even though it withheld payment to that publisher for those clicks or impressions in connection with any invalid activity or any breach of contract, including any policy violation.

How Were Claims Filed?

To receive a settlement payment, class members had to submit a claim form using the unique ID number the settlement administrator assigned to them, as shown in the email or postcard notice they received, no later than August 30, 2022. A claimant who had lost or never received that ID number had to reach the administrator through the official settlement website's contact page.

The Final Fairness Hearing took place on October 27, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division.

How Much Did Class Members Get?

Payments were calculated pro rata from the $7 million settlement fund (after fees, costs, and expenses) based on each eligible advertiser's invalid-activity charges during the class period. Exact amounts depended on the total number of valid claims filed, so there was no fixed per-advertiser figure.