Piggy-backing off of a lawyer’s name in internet ads with a hyperlink to a different firm can land attorneys in ethical hot water, but only if they don’t disclaim the maneuver, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a decision that drew criticism from the state bar.
The decision sets New Jersey apart from stricter states like North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, and Maryland, which have banned lawyers from using Google Ads and other tools to “hijack” the name recognition of competitors by sending would-be clients clicking on a lawyer’s name to their competing firm.
Without evidence of intentional deceit, ...
Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:
See Breaking News in Context
Bloomberg Law provides trusted coverage of current events enhanced with legal analysis.
Already a subscriber?
Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.