A search-engine-optimization (SEO) expert witness is someone with a great deal of knowledge about SEO, who can assist attorneys in court cases that have some element related to SEO; such cases are perhaps most frequently trademark cases, but are often also cases related to defamation, patents, and contract disputes.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a type of online marketing. It helps websites get more visitors by making them easier to find on search engines like Google and Bing. The search-engine-optimization expert witness can provide evidence and advice about how SEO works, and recommend to the client attorneys how the information should be used in the case.
The expert might be asked questions about what kinds of SEO techniques are being used by companies or websites involved in the trial. The expert witness can explain why certain strategies work better than others, or suggest alternatives when necessary, and also provide opinions about whether certain techniques might be regarded as “white hat” or “black hat.”
Having an experienced SEO expert witness on hand can give an attorney a big advantage during litigation, since they will have access to up-to-date information that may be difficult to find elsewhere. Furthermore, they can help attorneys understand the nuances of SEO and provide a better understanding of the industry’s trends and changes.
A search-engine-optimization expert witness will frequently be required to write a report describing the SEO techniques at issue in the litigation. The expert may their report “rebutted” by an expert hired by opposing counsel, and may also be subject to deposition, during which the expert is asked questions about the report and about their background and experience in the field. Finally, although most cases in the U.S. do not go to trial (they more often settle beforehand), on occasion an SEO expert witness will be required to testify in court.
With the right knowledge and experience, an SEO expert witness can help provide strong evidence in court and help to inform the “triers of fact” — the judge and jury — about the evidence in the case and its meaning.
