September 26, 2025. Russian media organizations ANO TV-Novosti and NO Fond Pravoslavnogo Televideniya (“NFPT”), represented by Marks & Sokolov LLC, secured a stipulated relief order in their legal dispute with Google LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 5:24-cv-05423-EJD).
As part of the stipulated relief order entered by the court, Google agreed to dismiss its claims seeking to stop the media companies’ efforts to enforce their Russian monetary judgments obtained in connection with the blocking of their YouTube content outside of Russia, based on the parties’ stipulation that those judgments were not based on any violation of Google’s Terms of Service. Importantly, subject to this stipulation, the court order imposes no restrictions on the media companies’ continued enforcement of their judgments across the globe. The dismissal of claims against TV-Novosti is temporarily stayed until confirmed by OFAC.
Background of the Case
The dispute traces back to 2020, when YouTube, a Google’s venture, began blocking channels operated by Russian media outlets. In response, Russian media organizations filed lawsuits in Russian courts, arguing that YouTube had violated its own Terms of Service by removing their content. The Russian courts ordered Google to reinstate the blocked YouTube channels and awarded penalties for each week of non-compliance. As the fines accrued, the Russian outlets launched enforcement actions in jurisdictions around the world in an effort to collect on the judgments. In response, Google filed suit in the Northern District of California, arguing that the Russian companies were contractually required to bring such disputes in U.S. courts under Google’s Terms of Service. The media companies, however, contended that their legal actions stemmed from violations of YouTube’s Terms of Service, not Google’s, and therefore were not subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
Marks & Sokolov LLC played key role in negotiating and securing this outcome for its Russian clients, successfully resolving complex and expensive international litigation with a stipulated relief order.