Google Looses Belgium Copyright Case, and Will Appeal (Google Watch)
- Google doesn't see this decision as a precedent-setter. But I'm not so sure. Perhaps it won't change the way Google does business. But Google isn't the only site out there that indexes and republishes other people's content. It might end up being nothing. But if I were any content indexing service out there, I'd take this one to heart. Google responded and they basically think the whole situation could have been avoided. There are already systems and procedures in place for the removal of content from the Google index without "the need for legal action".
- To be totally honest, I've thought for a while that Ask.com's Smart Answers provided better information than the Google OneBox. These are great examples of how a search-focused company can help provide better, more relevant information to users. Excellent work, Ask.com!
- Google has started adding flags to pages on the main SERPs when the site has been identified as a malicious website. This flag is in addition to, not a replacement for, the full-page blocking warnings that Google's been doing for a while now. False flags in the system aside, I think this is a great addition to Google's SERPs. Much better than that silly shopping cart logo.
- Ya know… this is pretty good advice. There might not be a whole lot you can do to prevent scraper sites from stealing your content. But doing a few of these things can at least let folks know where the information is really coming from (and give them a door or two back to your site). I mean… if they're going to take your content you might as well get something out of it.
- More examples of IAC working on original content. With recent discussions focusing on Ask.com becoming the focal point for all IAC media properties, this could bode well for the little search engine that could.
- The title was really long so I just summed it up. But the post shows a mock-up someone did (as a joke, of course) of Google's homepage with the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button being replaced by a "Take Me to Wikipedia" button. I must say… I had a good laugh with that one. I hate to beat a dead horse so I'll just leave the whole "Wikipedia on a Google pedestal" thing alone. Look at the picture. Have a laugh. And then thank your lucky stars that it's not true.
