Zerodha CEO Discusses Impact of Delhi High Court Ruling on Keyword Bidding

Nithin Kamath, CEO of Zerodha, shares insights on the recent Delhi High Court ruling regarding keyword bidding. He highlights the challenges businesses face when competitors bid on their trademarks, leading to lost traffic and revenue. The ruling opens avenues for legal action against such practices, particularly benefiting startups that struggle with resource constraints. Kamath's comments shed light on the broader implications for the business landscape and the need for fair competition in digital advertising.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 17:17 IST

Zerodha's Stance on Keyword Bidding

Nithin Kamath, the CEO of Zerodha, recently addressed the implications of the Delhi High Court's ruling regarding the Google and Hindware case. He expressed that this situation has posed significant challenges for businesses of all sizes. In a LinkedIn post, he noted, "When you search for Zerodha, the results often feature our competitors, a trend that has persisted for over ten years. While it's difficult to measure, we've undoubtedly lost substantial business due to this issue. Ideally, traffic from searches for 'Zerodha' should direct users to our site, but instead, ads often lead them to competitors, resulting in lost opportunities for us," he explained.

Kamath further highlighted the irony that many brands are compelled to bid on their own trademarks to secure their traffic. He stated, "If you own a trademarked business name, you still find yourself paying Google to protect your brand from competitors who might bid on it." However, he expressed optimism about the recent court ruling, which allows companies to pursue legal action against those infringing on their keywords. He emphasized that this judgment is particularly beneficial for startups, who often lack resources and face significant challenges. "This ruling provides a pathway for legal action against deceptive practices that could undermine their business," he concluded.