Google in Trouble for Suggesting Illegal Software

JehCt writes "Google is being sued over the 'suggest' feature built into its latest toolbar. InfoWorld reports: 'ServersCheck, a small company that makes network monitoring software,' is complaining that, 'If ServersCheck is entered, Google generates suggested search terms such as serverscheck crack, serverscheck pro crack and serverscheck keygen which lead to pirated software.' In an apparent public relations blunder, Google claimed to have no way of filtering suggestions. However, Google can and does filter because the toolbar won't provide suggestions for keywords like 'porn'."

Comments

No leg to stand on?

[crazyjeremy]

From a programming point of view, google doesn't really have a leg to stand on. If their code is smart enough to know a keyword "ServersCheck" is listed on webpages with the other keywords "ServersCheck crack", "ServersCheck keygen" or "ServersCheck pro crack" they should be able to put a filter in for it.

The exhaustive results of google search is one thing, but making suggestions to illegal activity in the toolbar is taking it a bit over the line.

"We don't have any problems with the fact that in Google you can find illegal copies of our software," Van Laere said. "There are people who will never buy the product at the end of the day.

"But people that are looking for your company's name in good faith are then being suggested by Google to go and look for a crack. That is a complete different ballgame," Van Laere said.

Re:No leg to stand on?

[nmb3000]

I think Google should only serve ads from legitimate businesses.

To clarify, this isn't Google's AdWords advertising that's under scrutiny. It's the 'suggest' feature of the new toolbar. Similar to what's found here.

Personally I don't care for the feature. If I'm going to search for something I can type it in myself. If I make a mistake, Google has taught me that spelling correctly isn't as important as it used to be :)

Re:No leg to stand on?

[aaronl]

I can think of reasons: if you make software that attempts to prevent cracking or simple key generation, you probably will use the words "crack" and "keygen" in your literature, if you attempt to break software to verify level of protection, etc. If Google were to put such a filter in place, they now have to examine each search result, and attempt to determine if the instance is talking about breaking software, protecting software, or illegally using software.

They very likely *can't* do that with the product they have today. It is a technically possible solution that Google could impliment, but not one that they are capable of today.

In regards to the pornography, Google probably determined that porn showed up far too often when searching for something unrelated. They likely hardcoded the application to avoid displaying those hits.

Re:No leg to stand on?

[CableModemSniper]

These guys are asking for a filter on the Suggest feature (where google provides a drop-down list of related search terms), like is already done for some pornography related terminology. They are not asking for google to filter out the word "crack" from search results, just like you can still go to google and type in "hot naked donkey porn" and get results. This is not about google linking to those pages. Here, try it out: http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en.

Re:No leg to stand on?

[LunaticTippy]

This borders on editorializing. I tried out the suggest feature, and typed in Office 2003. As I was typing it listed 10 or so "more complete" search terms. By the time I got to "Offi" it had numerous suggestions for cracks, warez, and keygens. These aren't sites, these are search terms.

I guess this means a lot of people search for these things. But it's probably fair to complain about Google actually suggesting these search terms.

I personally disagree with this complaint, but I understand it.

Re:No leg to stand on?

[Widowwolf]

hence why he posted to remove the negative moderation he accidently left...If you mod something, then go back to post, it will null out that moderation

Play with this feature w/o the toolbar

[LunaticTippy]

I don't like installing toolbars, but you can dink around with the suggest feature here

Re:Hint: if the most common search phrases

[gEvil (beta)]

Their pricing doesn't seem to be particularly out of line. If you find their software useful, it's certainly reasonable.

Not a US Case

[DeepCerulean]

for those of you who didn't RTFA, the suit was filed in Belgium. Unless Bush has invaded them recently, I'm pretty sure US law doesn't apply there...

I must say though, if we're going to get serious about monitoring the content on the internet (not saying we should...); this needs to be handled as international law because it's just retarded to do this on a country by country basis...

Should Google Filter Anything?

[GaryPatterson]

Company X: "We don't want our product mentioned in the same search results as 'cracks'! "
Nation X: "We don't want our nation mentioned in the same search results as 'democracy'! "
Religion X: "We don't want our religion mentioned in the same search results as 'evolution'! "

To paraphrase that great thinker, Yoda, "Once you start down the path of filtering, forever will it dominate your destiny."

Or was it "Start down path the filtering of once you, destiny dominate it forever your will." Something like that. But then he said a lot of stupid stuff when he was drunk.