Google charges such advertisers a fee each time a user clicks on an advert that is displayed on the search firm's site but if a company gets targeted by an automated programme or a malicious person, the number of clicks, and subsequent fees, can reach a very high number.
Google was accused of not doing enough to protect advertisers from falling victim to this sort of "click fraud" abuse.
Google has since introduced measures to improve security and brought in a new feature that will give advertisers a better picture of their Google ad accounts and any "invalid clicks", as Google calls possible click fraud, which have been discovered.
Under the terms of the settlement, Google will give advertising credits worth $4.50 for every $1,000 spent on advertising at its website and Miller County Circuit Judge Joe Griffin said the settlement was "fair, reasonable and adequate".
