Google Faces Trademark Suit By Analytics Platform Visier

HR analytics software company Visier sued Google for trademark infringement in San Francisco federal court on Monday, claiming Google’s Vizier machine-learning software is likely to confuse potential consumers.

Vancouver-based Visier told the US District Court for the Northern District of California that the similarity of the companies’ names and products could mislead consumers into thinking that Google’s software uses Visier’s technology, or that Visier is “simply reselling or repackaging Google technology.”

Visier asked the court for an unspecified amount of money damages and an order to block Google from using the Vizier name.

Google had no comment on the lawsuit. Visier and its attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Visier said in the lawsuit that its “people analytics” platform takes data and “applies cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to deliver insightful predictions.”

The company, founded in 2010, said one in three Fortune 500 companies use its software.

Google’s Vizier is a service for optimizing machine-learning models. Visier’s lawsuit said the internal Google software had been “relatively obscure” before being integrated with its Vertex AI machine-learning platform for developers last year.

Visier said it has discussed its infringement concerns with Google multiple times but was unable to resolve the claims.

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.