SEO Blog

How many lawsuits are there going to be against Google this year? It never seems to end. An article by Barry at Search Engine Watch, which leads back to Reuters, reports that parental advice site KinderStart.com is suing Google for banishing it in the rankings.

KinderStart claims it was pushed way down in Google rankings in March, 2005 without warning, and argues that this created a 70 percent dip in audience levels. KinderSmart alleges this drop caused an 80 percent decrease in revenues.

The company is seeking damages, as well as information about Google’s patented ranking system, a secret the search engine giant keeps well guarded.

More information about the lawsuit can be downloaded here.

This lawsuit seems a little ridiculous to me. If you’re punished by Google in the rankings there is a reason. Google gives plenty of warning about best practices on its site, found here, and it also gives advance warning about changes it will make to its system and services.

On Friday March 18, US District Judge James Ware denied the US government access to Google’s private search records. The lesser of two evils prevails…for now anyway. This is good news.

If you’re out of the loop on this issue, here is some background info: late last year the US Justice Department subpoenaed the major search engines to hand over thousands of private search records. The government’s ‘reason’ had to do with protecting children online. Google was the only engine that refused the government’s demands, stating it was a major invasion of user privacy. They were right.

The US government has been slowly closing the gap on its people’s freedoms. From a conspiracy point of view, there are accusations of alleged phone tapings, innocent people being held for government questioning, and citizens missing because they supposedly had some sort of conflict with the government. Yes, perhaps this is blown way out of proportion. But there is the very real Patriot Act, which gives the government the right to search your US residence without question. Then there’s Bush’s newly proposed law under the Patriot Act, which, if passed, will make protesting at major events, or protesting near the President, illegal. Violators will be jailed as “disruptors.” How about the new Internet “annoy” law, which will see Internet users fined or jailed for harassing or annoying others while using monikers? CNET sums this law up with: