So I got a piece of email today that I was 0.005 seconds away from labeling spam until I took a closer look. Turns out that I was am an unknowing participant in a Class Action Lawsuit against Yahoo! (!), which is beuing sued on behalf of all of us participants by Checkmate Strategic Group.

Yahoo acquired Overture’s liability
The litigation is for clickfraud that Overture, formerly GoTo.com, was found guilt for in the Central District of Californa Western Division. By “Clickfraud”, the best thing is to quote the actual document

… improperly collecting revenue by Charging and /or overcharging Class Persons for clicks that were clickfraud, click through fraud, fraudulent clicks, click spam, invalid clicks, unwanted clicks, unqualified clicks, improper clicks, non-converting clicks, inadequately converting clicks, clicks that were not reasonably expected by Class Persons or otherwise claimed by Class Persons as clicks for whic Class Persons should not have been charged and improperly collecting reenue by charging and/or overcharging Class Persons for clicks where users did not actively choose the Class Persons’ listings. (whew!)

I guess after Yahoo acquired Overture, it acquired all of its potential legal liabilities … whoops!

Nevertheless, there’s a website up that details the nuances of the class action lawsuit.

To summarize (and please correct me — I’m a doctor, not a lawyer!):

1. Yahoo (nee Overture) has been found liable for clickfraud for advertising placement on Yahoo’s (Overture’s) Search Marketing System between January 1st 1998, and July 31st 2006.
2. People are being contacted through email because their records indicate they are current or former Yahoo! account holders who bid and paid for advertising placement on Yahoo!s Search Marketing System at some point between said dates.
3. By participating in this class action, one court resolves all issues for all Class Members except those who opt out of the Class (United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder is in charge of this class action).
4. The last date to submit the Assetion of Right to Participate in Additional Claims Reviews Process — if you wish to be eligible to possibly receive advertising credits is November 20, 2006 [this is the compensation for the Class Members]
5. If the Court approves the settlement, you will automatically be eligible to submit the Assetion of the Right to Participate in Additional Claims Review, and give up your right to sue Yahoo! over the subject matter.
6. The Proposed settlement involves Yahoo! paying legal fees of about $5 million, but also the creation of an online traffic quality center, in addition to the creation of a Yahoo! “traffic quality advocate”, as well as work with third parties to develop industry wide standards that define clickfraud.
7. Any Class Member that wishes to participate in the additional claims review process will have to complete the Assetion of Right to Participate form and mail it in or by November 20, 2006.

More information to come — but basically I have an opportunity to reclaim lost advertising credits because Overture alleged screwed me (and others like me) when it came to click fraud.More information:
Class Action Website: http://www.checkmatesettlement.com
Yahoo’s own Press Release:
Putting Yahoo’s Clickfraud Litigation Woes In Context