Google India,the Indian subsidiary of US-based software giant,today contended before the Bombay High Court that unlike the publishers in print media,the blogging service,which facilitates publication of a blog,cannot control what is being posted all the time. They argued that it does not control the publication of content on blog-hosting website Blogger (owned by Google Inc),and is not liable for the same. Earlier,a single judge of High Court had restrained Google from hosting any blog containing defamatory material about Dr Ashwin Mehta,a city-based cardiologist. The offensive blog-posts were subsequently removed. However,Google India has now filed appeal against this order before a division bench,saying that blog-hosting company cannot monitor what is posted on blogs all the time. They further argued that Google India is not responsible for defamation through Blogger. According to them,Blogger service is provided by Google Incorporation (based in US). We (Google India) are not a party to agreement between Google Inc and those who use blogger, the court was told. We have no liability or responsibility for content of Blogger,Google India argued. It was submitted that Google only provides a platform and because of single judges order,it will be held in contempt if any fresh offensive blog about Dr Mehta comes up. The case has been listed for final hearing on July 7.
