Kenya’s Mocality refers Google dispute to South Africa

Kenya-based online business directory firm Mocality has taken their dispute with search engine giant Google a step further, by referring the matter to Google’s local office in South Africa. Mocality is suing Google for apparent misrepresentation.

“Mocality accused Google of misrepresentation by approaching its online clients with the promise of creating their Web sites at a cost of Sh20,000 and that it was working with the Kenyan firm. The accusation prompted Google’s vice president for product and engineering to apologise to the business directory firm and promise to take action on its staff for the misrepresentation,” Business Daily wrote.

Mocality declined to give any further in information on that matter. “I cannot pre-empt what step we will take as the matter is now being handled by our legal team in South Africa,” said Joshua Mwaniki, the country manager for Mocality.

Mwaniki added that Google was trying to make Mocality look bad, by the fraudulently soliciting for business from its clients. “What they were trying to do is make our business look bad and that is what we are taking exception to,” he said.

Iseme Kamau and Maema Advocates, based in Kenya, confirmed that Mocality is seeking for damages. “What Mocality is doing, is referred to us, passing off in common law and it signals an intention to seek an injunction or damages,” said James Kamau, the managing partner at Iseme Kamau and Maema Advocates.

Google has already been at loggerheads with companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Oracle – and now Mocality is the latest casualty. “We were mortified to learn that a team of people working on a Google project improperly used Mocality’s data and misrepresented our relationship with Mocality,” said Google’s Nelson Mattos, Vice-President for Product and Engineering, Europe and Emerging Markets.

Charlie Fripp – Acting online editor