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We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

datadial.net

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Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#31

Post by wpietri »

btipling wrote: post #27
regularfry wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's OK for them to want links removed. It's entirely beyond the pail to be able to enforce removal at lawyer-point just because it's damaging their SEO. Why should their SEO efforts be protected by law from random passers-by? The law isn't there to protect their profits.

Shopzilla just wants the links removed. This method has probably worked for them. They don't care if HN's never ending stream of daily outrage focuses on them for a short time (before moving on to a new thing to be outraged about tomorrow). They just want the links removed. I'm not defending them. I'm just trying to make sense out of it.

People "just wanting" something without regard for the consequences to others are acting like sociopaths.

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#32

Post by scrabble »

grey-area wrote: post #22

I suspect datadial know exactly what they're doing here - as revenge for this alleged petty act by the lawyers they're now google-bombing the term shopzilla (by deliberately including so many refs to shopzilla in this new blog post), and hoping to teach them a lesson about who is in control of links. They're already on the second page for a simple search for shopzilla, and I'd expect them to move up closer to the top…

I caught on to that about halfway through the article -- as I'd imagine most readers did.

It seems a bit much to me. Someone from Shopzilla responded in the comments with an apology and explanation of what had happened. Seemed good enough for me, mistakes do happen and I'd be surprised if this was started by Shopzilla with malicious intent.

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#33

Post by danielweber »

moomin wrote: post #16

I know a couple of the people at Shopzilla, and they're not idiots. However, it should be borne in mind that Shopzilla belongs to EWScripps who aren't idiots either, but do have the money to prosecute a case for a very long time indeed if they are so inclined. Anyway, I'd recommend the same thing: contact them and see if the law firm does, in fact, represent them and isn't just 'Prenda Law'ing.

The Cleveland Browns set the standard here, in 1974.

http://www.clevescene.com/64-and-counting/archives/2010/12/2...

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#34

Post by acomms »

grey-area wrote: post #22

I suspect datadial know exactly what they're doing here - as revenge for this alleged petty act by the lawyers they're now google-bombing the term shopzilla (by deliberately including so many refs to shopzilla in this new blog post), and hoping to teach them a lesson about who is in control of links. They're already on the second page for a simple search for shopzilla, and I'd expect them to move up closer to the top…

Very strange indeed - people don't take legal action lightly. I don't understand why a simple email asking to remove the link wouldn't work. And if that fails you can always just use the Google Disavow: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&#38...

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#35

Post by chmike »

It is unfortunate, but the integration of a link inside a page may affect it's page rank in google search results. This is enough, in my opinion, to justify the concern of the link target owner and legitimate the request to get the link removed. However, the harm, if any, needs to be established and proven for a trial to be successful I guess.

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#36

Post by cinquemb »

wpietri wrote: post #31
btipling wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shopzilla just wants the links removed. This method has probably worked for them. They don't care if HN's never ending stream of daily outrage focuses on them for a short time (before moving on to a new thing to be outraged about tomorrow). They just want the links removed. I'm not defending them. I'm just trying to make sense out of it.

People "just wanting" something without regard for the consequences to others are acting like sociopaths.

I'm sure the fear of being called a sociopath has scared many people from doing what they want...

If a business just wants something, can it really be sociopathic in the same way a person wants something?

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#39

Post by darkarmani »

scrabble wrote: post #32
grey-area wrote: post #22

I suspect datadial know exactly what they're doing here - as revenge for this alleged petty act by the lawyers they're now google-bombing the term shopzilla (by deliberately including so many refs to shopzilla in this new blog post), and hoping to teach them a lesson about who is in control of links. They're already on the second page for a simple search for shopzilla, and I'd expect them to move up closer to the top…

I caught on to that about halfway through the article -- as I'd imagine most readers did. It seems a bit much to me. Someone from Shopzilla responded in the comments with an apology and explanation of what had happened. Seemed good enough for me, mistakes do happen and I'd be surprised if this was started by Shopzilla with malicious intent.

> We flag up thousands of backlinks that are potentially spam

I don't know if this is good enough. Isn't he basically admitting that they send out thousands of C&D orders for linking? He's just apologizing for picking on someone with the means to fight back against this bullying.

Re: We’re Being Sued For Linking To Shopzilla

#40

Post by darkarmani »

moomin wrote: post #16

I know a couple of the people at Shopzilla, and they're not idiots. However, it should be borne in mind that Shopzilla belongs to EWScripps who aren't idiots either, but do have the money to prosecute a case for a very long time indeed if they are so inclined. Anyway, I'd recommend the same thing: contact them and see if the law firm does, in fact, represent them and isn't just 'Prenda Law'ing.

> I know a couple of the people at Shopzilla, and they're not idiots.

And yet they are suing over a hyperlink? I'll judge them by their actions.

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