Because algorithms that enable distribution of files are apparently much easier to write than algorithms that immediately remove copyright infringing files. Algorithms that immediately remove spam or malicious ads appear to be the exception to the rule…
Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft have drawn up a series of “principles” to guide how rights-holders should act when issuing them with requests for the removal of infringing content from search indexes as well as the responsibilities to which search engines themselves should be required to conform.
The plans were published (4-page/43KB PDF) by digital rights campaign group the Open Rights Group (ORG) who obtained details of the proposals via a freedom of information (FOI) request to the government.
Under the plans, search engines would be required to provide a way for rights-holders to inform them that their rankings display links to pirate content. Search engines would have to quickly remove content on receipt of a valid takedown notice.
Rights-holders’ takedown notices would have to be targeted in order to “specifically identify infringing content” and should only issue them to search engines “after assessing their impact on any non-infringing uses and concluding that the takedown would not have an adverse effect on such non-infringing uses”, the search engines’ plans propose.
