Some industry watchers say that the practice of building "link farms" resulted in recent changes to Google's search algorithm in September. Marketers such as Search King complain that Google's changes come with no forewarning to a Web community so dependent on it for traffic. Search King owner Bob Massa said in the lawsuit that the site's PageRank was 7 out of 10 from February 2001 to July 2002, when it was then raised to an 8. But a month later, things went downhill for the network. According to the complaint, the Web hosting company in August started the PR Ad Network -- an advertising network in which it sold text links on the popular Web sites to get them a better listing in Google's results. Shortly after Search King boasted the trick, the PR number for its Web site and those it hosts dropped from an 8 to a 4. The PR Ad Network itself was given a zero, "which in the Internet community is recognised as a manually determined penalty," according to the suit. "Due to the high value associated with page rank, the purposeful reduction of Search King and related Web sites' page rankings has damaged (its) reputation and diminished its value," according to the suit. "Google, as a provider of a ranking system upon with the Internet community relies, must apply the system in a manner that is not arbitrary, nor aimed at restraint of trade." Search King is seeking a preliminary injunction against Google to be restored to its previous ranking. It is also seeking unspecified damages in excess of $75,000, a threshold it is using to file the suit under claims of tortious interference with contractual clauses.
For everything Internet-related, from the latest legal and policy-related news, to domain name updates, see ZDNet UK's Internet News Section.
Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum.
Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.
Talkback
Come on everyone ! The only reason relevant and long standing websites have been bumped from the high spots is because the Google wants to raise the share value prior to floating the company. If your living relies on google searches, and you disapear from the search your only option is to pay for ad words. (Pay Per Click)
This is a self generating fraudulent money maker. The more people who are forced to do this, the more they will have to bid against eachother to ever be seen on adwords.
They deny this? Then let them show that there has not been an increase (dramatic) in profits from this PPC scam.
Everybody is in panic. If there were any solidarity people would switch search engines. That would change there way of thinking and give you back control of your own business.
Google can say whatever they want but the point is, if your site has all the relevant info for a given subject, has no faults in its construction and, above all, still appears in the same position in the minor engines, what other reason could there be?
Can someone tell me ?
Hi,
I agree with your comments totally. When the new came through that Google might be floating, we noticed our website drop from page 1 on Google, to page 77. I know ranking move up and down all the time, but to suddenly be dropped 77 pages I think is a bit unfair. Since Google re-indexed its database, our company's profits has nosed dived. We rely on the Internet heavily, which I suppose in some way is like putting all your eggs in once basket. We've since moved over to Google AdWords, which costs an absolute fortune. I mean we're only a small business and we're spending approx £80 - £100 per day. Does anyone here no of any good SEO? I