RE: Google FILTERS searches for possible DMCA i nfringable content!!!

[Joshua Thomas <JThomas () poweronemedia com>]

This is old news. This was on slashdot over a month ago.
 

Joshua Thomas
Network Operations Engineer
PowerOne Media, Inc.
tel: 518-687-6143
jthomas () poweronemedia com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Kristian Hermansen [mailto:khermansen () ht-technology com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 8:11 PM
To: Full Disclosure
Subject: [Full-disclosure] Google FILTERS searches for possible DMCA
infringable content!!!


I don't know if you guys noticed this or not, but recently Google has
started FILTERING requests for information that may violate the DMCA.  This
just started recently, but test it yourself.  Go to Google.com and try
searching for "kazaa lite k++", which is the enhanced version of the popular
P2P client.  If you notice, the website will not show up in the lists.  In
fact, it seems that the site that offered this client is now no longer
online.  What's REALLY SAD is that Google admits to the filtering at the
bottom of the page and gives an explanation, along with some documentation.
Here's what it says:
 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=kazaa+lite+k%2B%
2B> &lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=kazaa+lite+k%2B%2B
 
"In response to a complaint we received under the
<http://www.google.com/dmca.html> Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have
removed 4 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may
<http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?NoticeID=861> read the
DMCA complaint for these removed results."
 
If you click on the second link, you can read the complaint from Sharman
Networks against Google.
 
http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?NoticeID=861
<http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?NoticeID=861>  (text)
http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?action=image_410
<http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?action=image_410>  (PDF)
 
This is a sad day for us all.  It seems that Sharman Networks weren't happy
enough with the profits they made on advertising - a business that is run
solely on the attraction that customers can download digital content, which
they may or may not own legally.  Now, why would they want to block this
program so badly?  My guess...K++'s anonymous enhancements make it much too
difficult to track down piracy and since users would benefit from this, it
is a danger to their business.  Also, they are probably making even more
money on the side by selling information about who is massively sharing
MP3/VIDEO to the RIAA and MPAA.  BUT IRONICALLY THEY ARE USING THE F**KING
DMCA TO HAVE GOOGLE FILTER SEARCHES!!!  If anything, the DMCA should be used
against THEM for making it easy for people to download illegal content.
"Hey you don't have the right to steal what I am currently stealing!!!"
Reminds me of Microsoft stealing from Apple.  This is the most improper use
of the DMCA I have ever seen.  What do you guys all think of this?
 
Kris Hermansen
CEO - H&T Technology Solutions
 
PS - Since Google won't allow you to find the new K++ homepage, here it is:
http://www.klitesite.com/ <http://www.klitesite.com/>