Fed's going after Google, Overture...for paid placements - GoFuckYourself.com

hershie · 08-19-2002, 09:02 AM

Search sites work to clean up their act

http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1023-...&subj=cnetnews

GotGauge · 08-19-2002, 09:12 AM

I advertise on google,
Yes you can buy the high position.
It isn't included in the list of search results but off to the right hand side of the page...

Theo · 08-19-2002, 09:13 AM

lol, this US government is fucked up

Fletch XXX · 08-19-2002, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GotGauge
I advertise on google,
Yes you can buy the high position.
It isn't included in the list of search results but off to the right hand side of the page...

Youdont buy "search rank" you buy a sponsor slot.

hershie · 08-19-2002, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GotGauge
I advertise on google,
Yes you can buy the high position.
It isn't included in the list of search results but off to the right hand side of the page...

Wait, aside from the right hand side CPM buy you can make there, didn't they also start a CPC deal exactly like Overture for higher placement in the main results area?

Wizzo · 08-19-2002, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pornopete
I do not see google included in that list. It is target pay-per-click search engines such as Overture.

Companies named in the complaint were AltaVista, AOL Time Warner, Direct Hit Technologies (owned by Ask Jeeves), iWon, LookSmart, Microsoft and Terra Lycos.

A copy of the recent FTC letter was also sent to Overture, Yahoo, InfoSpace, About.com, Google and Disney -because they are selling the listings.

I think the idea of a free SE is flat out stupid, they ALL should be pay per click and will be one day...Because this is business and only those making money will survive...

pr0 · 08-19-2002, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wizzo

I think the idea of a free SE is flat out stupid, they ALL should be pay per click and will be one day...Because this is business and only those making money will survive...

I suppose you only shop at Wal-Mart. The U.S. Govt realizes that small business is what makes our economy thrive, you take away the small businesses ability to make money on the net & you destroy the net. So i will have to disagree with you

Chris R · 08-19-2002, 09:26 AM

The letter was not sent to google as a complaint. In fact the COMPLAINING party said GOOD THINGS ABOUT GOOGLE:

"Google, specifically noted as an exception in the Commercial Alert complaint, stands out in this story"

http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb020708-2.htm

Notice that commercial alert is the company mentioned in both articles.

FlyingIguana · 08-19-2002, 11:32 AM

states turning into china now or something?

cherrylula · 08-19-2002, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wizzo

I think the idea of a free SE is flat out stupid, they ALL should be pay per click and will be one day...Because this is business and only those making money will survive...

Free stuff is what makes the internet cool.

Fletch XXX · 08-19-2002, 11:37 AM

Bid ranking blows and anyone who uses search engines know.

People use google for a reason, they know idiots pay to get listed on others.

Google will never be bid placement, you can buy your adwords etc but Google will never be ranked that way/

Sly_RJ · 08-19-2002, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wizzo

I think the idea of a free SE is flat out stupid, they ALL should be pay per click and will be one day...Because this is business and only those making money will survive...

No, that will be bad and will never happen. Free search engines are good. Maybe you're too old, but schools use search engines all the time for research and information for reports and presentations. Almost 90% of the time, the best information and best search results yield sites that are not business backed. Some kid decided to post all of his knowledge on baseball cards, you can't expect this kid to pay for a search listing when other people really want his information.

They will not all be pay per click...

Sly_RJ · 08-19-2002, 12:02 PM

Another reason pay per click isn't always good: people exploit it! A pay per click engine is all backed by big money eating up many keywords, even those that aren't relevant. How do you expect people to find relevant sites and information for what they want? They wouldn't, then someone would create a "free" search engine to fill surfers needs.

Sleepy · 08-19-2002, 12:24 PM

It's not a big deal to me but I have to agree that it's hard to search for anything these days and actually find what you are looking for. I think thats why google does so well. It's one of the few search engines where you can actually find what you are looking for. This warning to the SEs is about truth in advertising and theres nothing wrong with making companies tell the truth.

Snake Doctor · 08-19-2002, 12:42 PM

From the article

"Many of these search engines have near zero editorial integrity," Ruskin said. "If (listings) are for sale, the public ought to know; then they are not search engines but ad delivery mechanisms."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It makes sense to me. If you advertise yourself as an unbiased catalog of web sites, and then return paid listings and dupe the surfer into thinking that those results are the most relevant, then that's misleading.

It seems that the only real change that's going to be made is that they won't be allowed to call the paid listings "featured sites" anymore, they'll now have to be called "sponsored links"

DarkJedi · 08-19-2002, 12:52 PM

There will always be free Search Engines. (thats why google became the most used SE)

oh yeah, fuck Alta Vista

Sleepy · 08-19-2002, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DarkJedi

oh yeah, fuck Alta Vista

I'll second that. But.. then again, they probably helped google become #1 by selling all their adult traffic to nightsurf

Its funny that Alta Vista was so popular then they shot themself in the foot. They could have been as profitable as google by not changing at all.

kevinl · 08-19-2002, 10:20 PM

I remember like 2 1/2 years ago alta vista was the one to be on. They were banning domains and doing all kinds of crazy shit. They aren' shit anymore.

.:Frog:. · 08-19-2002, 10:43 PM

Pay per click is fucking lame. Not every website is out to make a profit. Shit, most are fan pages or pages created for fun.
If I search for something the last thing in the world I want is just business sites.

My respect goes out to google for not being a damn sellout.

Mr.Fiction · 08-20-2002, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FlyingIguana
states turning into china now or something?

Why, is the Chinese government big on preventing businesses there from misleading consumers?

This case is not, from what I understand, about preventing people from making or running PPC engines. It is simply about honesty in advertising. Search engines, like any other U.S. businesses, are not allowed to mislead consumers about the service that they are offering.

Imagine if the FTC decided to go after adult paysites for bogus advertising in tour pages. Most pay sites I've ever seen the inside of would either be shut down or fined severely.

Terenzo · 08-20-2002, 07:45 AM

i think each se should be free to decide itself... it's clear to me, though, that the free ones will survive... where was google some years ago, i remember av, lycos, excite, some other shit.... they all copied each other turning into portals and shit, but fuck. who uses them???

google wont make stupid changes, i am sure about that.

HomeGrown · 08-20-2002, 08:01 AM

Good, everyone should have a chance at getting listed fairly.

Notice after 9/11 our economy got fucked, now the feds are cracking down on these cheaters? Makes you wonder...

08-19-2002, 09:12 AM	#2
GotGauge Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: USA Posts: 3,072	I advertise on google, Yes you can buy the high position. It isn't included in the list of search results but off to the right hand side of the page... __________________ ICQ 22264474 [email protected]

08-19-2002, 09:13 AM	#3
Theo HAL 9000 Industry Role: Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 34,515	lol, this US government is fucked up Last edited by Theo; 08-19-2002 at 09:15 AM..

08-19-2002, 11:37 AM	#11
Fletch XXX GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: that 504 Posts: 60,840	Bid ranking blows and anyone who uses search engines know. People use google for a reason, they know idiots pay to get listed on others. Google will never be bid placement, you can buy your adwords etc but Google will never be ranked that way/ __________________ Want an Android App for your tube, membership, or free site? Need banners or promo material? Hit us up (ICQ Fletch: 148841377) or email me fletchxxx at gmail.com - recent work - About me

08-19-2002, 12:02 PM	#13
Sly_RJ Live Hard - Die Hard Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Ready to leave... Posts: 17,042	Another reason pay per click isn't always good: people exploit it! A pay per click engine is all backed by big money eating up many keywords, even those that aren't relevant. How do you expect people to find relevant sites and information for what they want? They wouldn't, then someone would create a "free" search engine to fill surfers needs. __________________ PHAT SERVERS - Quality dedicated hosting at a quality price! sly AT phatservers DOT com - 147479144

08-19-2002, 10:20 PM	#18
kevinl Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: US Posts: 261	I remember like 2 1/2 years ago alta vista was the one to be on. They were banning domains and doing all kinds of crazy shit. They aren' shit anymore. __________________ kevinl

08-19-2002, 09:02 AM	#1
hershie Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,642	Fed's going after Google, Overture...for paid placements Search sites work to clean up their act http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1023-...&subj=cnetnews

08-19-2002, 09:26 AM	#8
Chris R Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 1,151	The letter was not sent to google as a complaint. In fact the COMPLAINING party said GOOD THINGS ABOUT GOOGLE: "Google, specifically noted as an exception in the Commercial Alert complaint, stands out in this story" http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb020708-2.htm Notice that commercial alert is the company mentioned in both articles.

08-19-2002, 11:32 AM	#9
FlyingIguana aspiring banker Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: toronto Posts: 10,870	states turning into china now or something?

08-19-2002, 12:24 PM	#14
Sleepy Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Porn Peddler Posts: 679	It's not a big deal to me but I have to agree that it's hard to search for anything these days and actually find what you are looking for. I think thats why google does so well. It's one of the few search engines where you can actually find what you are looking for. This warning to the SEs is about truth in advertising and theres nothing wrong with making companies tell the truth.

08-19-2002, 12:42 PM	#15
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	From the article "Many of these search engines have near zero editorial integrity," Ruskin said. "If (listings) are for sale, the public ought to know; then they are not search engines but ad delivery mechanisms." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- It makes sense to me. If you advertise yourself as an unbiased catalog of web sites, and then return paid listings and dupe the surfer into thinking that those results are the most relevant, then that's misleading. It seems that the only real change that's going to be made is that they won't be allowed to call the paid listings "featured sites" anymore, they'll now have to be called "sponsored links"

08-19-2002, 12:52 PM	#16
DarkJedi No Refunds Issued. Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: GFY Posts: 28,300	There will always be free Search Engines. (thats why google became the most used SE) oh yeah, fuck Alta Vista

08-19-2002, 10:43 PM	#19
.:Frog:. Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: ~ C A N A D A ~ Posts: 2,123	Pay per click is fucking lame. Not every website is out to make a profit. Shit, most are fan pages or pages created for fun. If I search for something the last thing in the world I want is just business sites. My respect goes out to google for not being a damn sellout.

08-20-2002, 07:45 AM	#21
Terenzo Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 971	i think each se should be free to decide itself... it's clear to me, though, that the free ones will survive... where was google some years ago, i remember av, lycos, excite, some other shit.... they all copied each other turning into portals and shit, but fuck. who uses them??? google wont make stupid changes, i am sure about that. __________________ Signature Spot - USD 5000 / month

08-20-2002, 08:01 AM	#22
HomeGrown Confirmed User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 345	Good, everyone should have a chance at getting listed fairly. Notice after 9/11 our economy got fucked, now the feds are cracking down on these cheaters? Makes you wonder... Last edited by HomeGrown; 08-20-2002 at 08:21 AM..