Home of Lane's Gifts

Google has agreed to establish a $90 million fund to settle the class action lawsuit originally filed by Arkansas-based Lane's Gifts & Collectibles, alleging Google was profiting from click fraud, reports Search Engine Watch. "The proposal would allow advertisers to apply for credits for clicks they believe were not valid…. We do not know how many advertisers will apply and receive credits, but the total amount, including the legal fees determined by the judge, will not exceed $90 million," according to Google's official blog.

The judge still needs to approve the settlement, which would allow any Google advertiser to apply for credit - to be used toward new advertising with Google - involving questionable clicks from 2002 through the official settlement date.

Yahoo and Miva, also named separately in the suit - that is, not as participants in Google's ad network - likely are not part of the settlement.

Yahoo said it stands by its "proprietary click protection system, and (we) look forward to vigorously defending our position in this matter."