Google alters algorithm as Hollywood lobbyists win latest copyright battle

Google is to make a significant change to its search algorithm from Monday, downgrading websites that persistently breach copyright laws.The move is a victory for media and entertainment giants, which have complained for years that Google does not do enough to prevent access to material that breaches strict copyright laws on content such as music videos and TV shows.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/aug/10/google-algorithm-hollywood-lobbyists-copyrightAlso see:Google to Alter Search Results to Reflect a Site’s History of Copyright Infringement
Big media companies won a battle in the fight to combat online piracy on Friday when Google said it would alter its search algorithms to favor Web sites that offered legitimate copyrighted movies, music and television.Google said that beginning next week its algorithms would take into account the number of valid copyright removal notices Web sites have received. Web sites with multiple, valid complaints about copyright infringement may appear lower in Google search results.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/google-to-alter-search-results-to-reflect-a-sites-history-of-copyright-infringement/Google to drop search rankings of sites with many takedown notices
In a Friday morning blog post, Google said it will change its search algorithm next week to take into account “the number of valid copyright removal notices” it receives for any site. High rates of removal notices are likely to drop a site down in the search results, which Google says “should help users find legitimate, quality sources of content more easily.”The new move appears to be a nod in the direction of rightsholders, most notably the MPAA and RIAA. The latter trade group, meanwhile, has argued previously that Google isn’t doing enough to remove possibly infringing links.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/08/google-to-drop-search-rankings-of-sites-with-many-takedown-notices/