Odd That Microsoft Demands Google Take Down Links That Remain In Bing
from the how-about-that... dept
We just wrote about Google’s very cool, new copyright transparency tool, which lets you dig into the details of all the search takedowns that Google gets. As people start to play around with the site, some interesting things are coming to light. Lots of people noticed that the number one copyright holder requesting takedowns from Google search was… Microsoft. While some have suggested this is an attempt by a competitor to worsen Google’s search rankings, that’s difficult to believe for a variety of reasons. If Microsoft were issuing bogus takedowns, that would certainly come to light pretty quickly.
However, what is interesting is that you can use the new system to play around and notice that Microsoft doesn’t always seem to take down from its search engine, Bing, the same links that it orders Google to takedown. As we noted in our original post, there’s been plenty of talk suggesting that Google isn’t fast enough in taking down things upon DMCA request, but the company claims that they average less than 11 hours — and considering that they’re processing over 1 million takedowns per month (and are checking them by hand), that’s pretty impressive. How long does it take Microsoft to take content down?
Well, you would think that if Microsoft is sending a takedown notice to Google to remove a site from its search engine, that it’s almost certainly letting Bing know to remove it too, right? Why wouldn’t it. But if you do some digging, you can find sites that Microsoft has ordered taken down from Google, but which are still available via Bing. Here’s just one example. If you look through Google’s transparency report, there’s a specific search takedown request that was filed on May 11, so not too long ago. You can see the full ChillingEffects notice here as well. The takedown was sent, on behalf of Microsoft, by a company called Marketly, who appears to send a large number of takedowns, according to the Google data. In this case, Marketly had sent a takedown to Google demanding the removal of a bunch of URLs from its index concerning a variety of XBox 360 games, including DiRT 2. The 20th URL listed goes to a page on TorrentRoom.
Now, if you take that URL and put it into Google and Bing, you get two very different responses. First, there’s Google:
This would suggest that, either Marketly and Microsoft decide to leave up certain infringing content on Microsoft’s own search engine while taking it down from Google… or that Microsoft certainly isn’t that fast at doing removals. And yet, why don’t we hear the people who always bitch about Google complaining about Microsoft?
Of course, the data is also revealing some other interesting “issues” with Microsoft’s takedowns. Kurt Opsahl, for example, noticed that Microsoft sent Google a takedown, you can view here, which claims that previous takedown notices, also from Microsoft, are in fact, infringing. This one was also sent by “Marketly” and suggests that they don’t do much research to make sure the sites are legitimately infringing before issuing takedowns.
Filed Under: bing, search, takedown, transparency
Companies: google, marketly, microsoft
Comments on “Odd That Microsoft Demands Google Take Down Links That Remain In Bing”
This is hysterical.
They always are screaming how Google needs to do more, spend more, more more more for them… but one of the largest takedown submitters seems to have forgotten they have their own search engine.
Of course it can’t be because they are being slow, so that people will migrate to Bing to find things that were Google wiped. That would be so hypocritical and highlight that the process is a complete and total joke.
Re: Re:
The links Microfost wants google to remove are direct links to pirated Microsoft software. If Microsoft wants to leave those links in Bing, that’s their business. I would imagine it’s to track the people who go to those sites to pirate their software. They would haev to pay google to get this information.
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Track how?
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Without knowing your level of technology understanding I can’t begin to know if you are just being funny with your “track how?” statement. But under the assumption that you don’t have much knowledge of the HOW of IT’s ability to track you on the internet, let me just say that tracking you is extremely easy to do.
The hard part would be knowing the actual person behind the keyboard, but there is some pretty interesting tech out there and even better stuff on the horizon (using analysis methods) that will with a high degree of certainty allow a company or investigator to fairly accurately tell who is using a computer. Sort of like criminal profiling techniques. Couple that with the fact that your IP can be tracked (even if you try to mask it through a proxy) and one of these days, it will be nothing for companies like Google to determine with relative ease who you are, where you are and where you’ve been on the internet.
Re: Re: Re:2 Re:
I’m just wondering how M$ will know if I actually downloaded the software after I clicked on a search link on Bing to a forum that has infringing copies.
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u mad, bro?
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So if they’re tracking people who go to pirate sites presumably to sue them (or threaten and settle) wouldn’t it be more profitable to make the pirate link rank above the legit links so they can shakedown the pirates?
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And if they leave those links in Bing it sorta cuts the legs out from them screaming how the internet is robbing them blind and Google only profits by keeping those links available.
Pay Google to get information that Google does not offer…
Searching for information isn’t a crime.
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Dont you know sharing is wrong
Re: Re: Re:2 Re:
there should be a new word for sharing like
bad wrong
or?
Anyone
Re: Re: Re:3 Re:
“there should be a new word for sharing like
bad wrong
or?
Anyone”
Badong
Yes. Sharing is Badong
Re: Re: Re:4 Re:
Sharing is Badonkeconk.
Re: Re:
If only Bing would just copy Google’s search results, life would be so much easier.
Oh wait:
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2011/02/google-catches-bing-copying-microsoft-says-so-what/
I still don’t understand why search engine providers need to police their own site to satisfy the demands of a third-party. Just who owns, operates and pays for the website, anyway?
BTW, can anyone name some good alternative search engines to the Google/Yahoo/Bing trifecta of censorship?
Re: Re:
I use this – https://startpage.com/
It’s a good secure browser
Re: Re: Re:
Sorry, search engine
Re: Re:
try duckduck go
Re: Re:
duckduckgo.com/about.html
Re: Re:
Duckduckgo is a pretty decent alternative
Re: Re:
duck duck go
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DuckDuckGo is known to not censor, and not save user data
Re:
Google do, but its much easier to satisfy a simple request than go to court about it, eh? In my opinion next time MS ask for them to take down a website they turn round and say “Bugger off and delete the links you have on YOUR site” because why should they comply if MS wont comply.
Re: Re:
duckduckgo.com
Re: Re:
duckduckgo seems to be a common one people use
Re: Response to: Michael on May 25th, 2012 @ 5:14am
duckduckgo.com
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Good searchengines are DuckDuckGo (partially based on Bing) and ixquick.com
From a privacy and interface point of view miles ahead
Re:
Like anyone wants to piss off M$, they will just backdoor your windows and remove your product code(s)…
/s but still…………… 🙂
tracking
Microsoft can track who clicks on it when found through their search engine … something you may want to consider. Although they’ve never gone after end users before, who knows what the future holds.
Re: tracking
Although they’ve never gone after end users before, who knows what the future holds.
Actually… anytime I go to pirate Microsoft software from now on, I’m now going to do both Bing and Google searches. If I can find something that Google has removed due to a complaint by Microsoft, and that same result is still available in Bing, I’ll document it and download it.
If Microsoft decides to sue me, I’ll point this out. Since it appears that Microsoft’s search engine is directing people to downloads of Microsoft’s product, it is a reasonable assumption that Microsoft is supporting the distribution of their software via that means.
Re: Re: tracking
At which time they’ll remove the result and you try and prove that it ever existed.
Re: tracking
Just because I click on it, doesn’t mean I download it.
Therefore, any notices I get about downloading infringing content will be sent back with a picture of a middle finger.
Perhaps personalized search engines run from your own computer will be the wave of the future. I recall awhile back something called FileFerret/WebFerret or something along those lines.
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Google indexes somewhere in the range of 50 billion websites. The bandwidth, storage, and computational resources to do that is massive (to understate it). I’d like you to do the same from your computer.
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“Google indexes somewhere in the range of 50 billion websites. The bandwidth, storage, and computational resources to do that is massive (to understate it). I’d like you to do the same from your computer.”
According to what I read, WebFerret is a search robot which you can run from your computer. But maybe it still gets all its results from search engines. I don’t know the particulars.
If ever there’s going to be decentralized web search functionality, now’s the time for willing parties to take a shot at it. We can ill-afford to depend on one or two sites to filter through all content.
BTW, thanks guys for posting those alternative search engines.
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I’d like you to do the same from your computer.
I don’t need to do it on my own – we can all gang together…
http://yacy.net/en/
Don't look at the man behind the curtain!
I’m sure that they don’t want you peeking at the reports on chillingeffects that tell you exactly what they are trying to do.
Not only is it illegal to look at stuff that they broadcast over the public airwaves, and illegal to point to where you can find it, it is now illegal to know anything about the previous two [CENSORED].
I know it’s true. I read it in the DMCA.
could there be some jealousy/favoritism at play here? the old,
dont do what i do, do what i say?
or
what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander?
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In which case, the gander should be shot and cooked.
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to the best of my knowledge that line refers to sauces put on already ex-geese.
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whoops. that was me.
the old ‘claim your posts’ thing is no longer about it seems?
Cached links from Google in Bing?
Any possibility this result in Bing was actually an old (pre-takedown) result from Google that was subsequently cached by Bing?
Wouldn’t that be rich irony!
Err, MS don’t have to notify Bing, do they? The fact that Bing simply scrapes Google to get their search results means that, shortly after it disappears from Google, it will also disappear from Bing, no?
🙂
WOw
OK yeah that makes a lot of sense dude.
Privacy-Nerds.tk
Permission
I think this is Microsoft’s way of giving you permission to download it as long as you do it through Bing.
Re: Permission
What else do you expect them to do when not even bribing people with money will make them use your search engine cause it stinks so much? This is a new round of incentives.
Re: Re: Permission
Nah
I like google, but bing aint that bad a tool, just dont trust the people running it is all
Dont blame the tool
Re: Re: Permission
Nah
I like google, not as much used to though, but bing aint that bad a tool, just dont trust the people running it is all
Dont blame the tool, blame the people missusing it
Re: Re: Re: Permission
sorries
Re: Re: Re: Permission
what if they’re all tools?
Re: Re: Re:2 Permission
Then you have a massive Tool problem. You’ll need to get some nails, duct tape and a chihuahua.
Could be that Bing has so few users that it doesn’t really matter to Microsoft whether the links are up there or not.
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I know I have never used it.
If Microsoft decides to sue me, I’ll point this out. Since it appears that Microsoft’s search engine is directing people to downloads of Microsoft’s product, it is a reasonable assumption that Microsoft is supporting the distribution of their software via that means.
That’s a good point actually… So since an ‘official’ Microsoft site is in fact pointing us there…
Err, MS don’t have to notify Bing, do they? The fact that Bing simply scrapes Google to get their search results means that, shortly after it disappears from Google, it will also disappear from Bing, no?
Yes, another interesting thought – which would possibly be a violation of Google’s terms of use. Assuming they are scraping it – they are indeed using it then.
This might make for a very interesting experiment with these take downs – I wonder if it will still be there in a couple days… on bing.
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Ive been using bing more often, as i cant seem to find stuff on google as easy as i seem to remmeber, could be my imagination, could be new search algorithm, or it could be the site take downs, which i doubt, as im not looking for infringing material
Ill tell you one thing, when bing starts to take down the same links that google are forced to take down, and i start noticing the same “empty internet effect” im noticing on google, over these recent times, gues what, i wont be using bing anymore……..
The cynicism in me starts to wonder if there are nefarious uses of DMCA takedowns by Microsoft, poisoning Google’s results so Bing gives better information…
Quote
I qoute Lelouche vi Britannia:
“If the king does not lead, how can he expect his subordinates to follow?”
And the reason bing wont take them down, is becuase they are fully aware, that they’d lose some of their customers
@That Anonymous Coward sed “but one of the largest takedown submitters seems to have forgotten they have their own search engine”
what? maybe they are like everyone else who didn’t know it existed. quick research… google ‘largest takedown submitters google’ response ‘microsoft’ google ‘microsoft search engine’ response ‘bing’ … whats this ‘bing’ thing? To those around me .. no response… never heard of it, never used it. great links to software, you need to try it! can I get an app for that?
Keep writing these articles that your pirate fan base loves, Mike. Yeah, we can’t tell how much you love piracy. It’s so impossible to tell. You’re hiding it soooo well.
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His will be done
Every resource should be diverted untill this “piracy” *spits* is sorted out, then we can concentrate on the smaller, less important things, like murder, no wait, jay walking, yeah jay walking, my bad, jay walking is almost as distructive as murder…..no wait i mean piracy……..no wait, no, yeah i mean piracy…..is that what i mean????
And the rrrrrealy small matters such as government corruption, well, theres no harm done, its not hurting anyone in a physical sense……….not unlike piracy
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If you get your way, mother’s will no longer teach their kids to share.
Microsoft slow or non-responsive??
Surely you jest.
By overwhelming Google with take down requests MS is able control its copyrights and knowledge base. MS wants you to only be able to access MS info and product through MS channels. While this tactic in not explicitly illegal it does stink of censorship, collusion, monopoly, and other practices that stifle innovation, fair use, and free markets.
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Not to mention microsofts patent*spits* win over motorola and their ban on motorola/android phones, googles newest aquisition
Quick Microsoft, Bing is infringing your copywrongs! SUE THEM INTO OBLIVION!!!! Oh wait…
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Nah they’ll probably use the officialy goverment approved method of sabotaging competion
Patents
Microsoft should sue bing and reward themselves millions
Speaks volumes
This is probably the clearest statement from Microsoft that Bing is an irrelevant search engine, except apparently if you’re searching for infringing content.
Bing, a pirates haven
Makes me wonder how many strings microsoft are pulling in the background
I hope none, because if they are, then they’ve become extremely good at covering their tracks, i mean they’ve potentially had a long time to practice
At 250k takedown requests per week, how long before search engines only list sites related to the old legacy industries.
Maybe they know that no one uses Bing so it’s not worth the time to remove the links.
Thats BS
The consumer suffers, not getting access to all resources available. Id like to see this type of junk disappear. LoL
Remember folks sharing is fine, until it becomes to efficient
Oh but remember why they're in business???
Anyone remember why they’re even in business?? They started by PIRATING and stealing ideas and software themselves! LOL now theyre so against it? Worst type of company on the planet…
Microsloth!
(I’m stunned no one’s made the joke yet…)
+1 point for Linux
Huh?
Wait wait wait…
Microsoft owns a search engine?!?
duckduckgo all the way, no page 2 of results – just keep scrolling till you find what you’re after. Clean, simple yet useful search engine where the ads aren’t unrelentingly served up to you. Google suck but Bing is even worse . . .
Its true
I have submitted request to both google and Bing. Bing is nowhere. They are stuck in the ms philosophy, so nothing gets done and they stay stuck in loser land.
I dont think ms want to take results from bing cause the don’t have many results to begin with.
Anyway, if you are looking for pirated software, BING is the way to go. Esp if you want android pirated software. Bing seems to high light that because they don’t want to show the official google play properties.
Anyway (again), ms is will be gone within a few years.
bing vs. google
id rather use google thats what ive grown up on using. google is the best search engine there is
bing vs. google
Me too