Google claims the 'First' in web ranking row

Google has mobilised its lawyers in an attempt to quash a lawsuit that alleges it unfairly manipulated search query results to the financial detriment of the complainant - online advertising network Search King.

The search giant has formally refuted a preliminary injunction request from Search King, who filed a lawsuit against Google in late October 2002, alleging it unfairly removed the Search King web address from top search rankings, causing financial losses.

In addition, Google has filed a motion to dismiss the case.

The complaint, filed in the US Western District Court of Oklahoma, centred on Google's 'PageRank' algorithm - one of the company's recipes for calculating search results. Search King sought a preliminary injunction against Google, one of the most popular sites in the world, asking to be restored to its previous ranking and to be awarded $75,000 in damages.

Google's filing stated: "The PageRank that Google assigns to a web page is simply Google's view or opinion of the importance of that web page. Such views or opinions are protected by the First Amendment."

Google representatives declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Stefanie Olsen writes for News.com