In a post uploaded last week on Google’s “Inside Search” blog, Amit Singhal, SVP of Engineering, explained how expectant changes to Google’s search engine algorithms will keep suspected pirated content down in its overall search engine listings.
The changes will target those sites that receive a numerous amount of valid copyright removal notices and keep them below sites in the search results that are broadcasting authentic material. A move that in theory should keep pirated content from being easily viewed after a user searches for media on Google.
According to Singhal, “… (W)e’re now receiving and processing more copyright removal notices every day than we did in all of 2009—more than 4.3 million URLs in the last 30 days alone. We will now be using this data as a signal in our search rankings.”
While the number of removal notices will have a negative effect on the cited website’s search rankings, Google will continue to rely on the copyright holders to notify them of the infringement before they will remove a page. There’s also a counter-notice tool in place where those who feel their contact was removed erroneously can petition to have it reinstated.
Recording Industry Association of America Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman issued a comment in support of Google’s change, stating, “This should result in improved rankings for the licensed music services that pay artists and deliver fans the music they love. This change is an important step in the right direction – a step we’ve been urging Google to take for a long time – and we commend the company for its action.”
What do you think of Google’s algorithm change?
