Google ramps up copyright protection in search
The Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.
/ KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/Getty Images(CBS News) Google is changing its search algorithm again. This time the search giant is trying to weed out sites that may infringe on copyrights.
Full coverage of Google at Tech Talk
Instead of removing sites that may be violating copyright laws, Google has a workaround that technically doesn't censor the Web yet may appease copyright holders.
The company said in a blog post Friday:
"Starting next week, we will begin taking into account a new signal in our rankings: the number of valid copyright removal notices we receive for any given site. Sites with high numbers of removal notices may appear lower in our results."
Copyright infringement has been a contentious topic for copyright holders and net-neutrality advocates.
In January, Google joined sites like Wikipedia and Reddit in an online protest to the sister bills Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). The search giant felt the bills went too far and would stifle innovation. Supporters of the bills sought powerful protection for copyright holders.
The move to change its algorithm shows a willingness to work with organizations like the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America. However, it will not remove websites from its index unless the company receives a valid copyright removal notice.
Google says it has received copyright removal notices for more than 4.3 million in the last 30 days. Sites that believe they've been incorrectly targeted may apply to have the removal reversed.
Russia's proposed Internet blacklist looms
Russian protesters waved this banner in December 2011 in an outcry over Vladimir Putin and Russia's presidential elections. Would similar actions online be proscribed under the proposed blacklist legislation?
/ CBS News video/Screenshot by CNET's Jonathan Skillings(CNET) The United States had the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Britain has the Digital Economy Act. China is - well, in a league of its own.
Russia is next on the list of developed nations pushing for widespread website blocking and censorship capabilities in the wake of an online uprising prior to the inauguration of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Thousands of protesters took to the streets, set up blogs, and disseminated demands for a fresh ballot over social networks following claims of a rigged votes and electoral corruption in the recent presidential elections.
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What is the Declaration of Internet Freedom?
Internet advocates announced the Declaration of Internet Freedom on July 2, 2012.
/ Free PressActivist groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Free Press and Access Now banned together and announced Monday the writing of the Declaration of Internet Freedom. The organizations say the document is "a set of principles providing a positive vision to preserve the Internet as a platform for speech, innovation and creativity."
SOPA, PIPA today: Internet on strike!
SOPA opera: the Internet dukes it out with Congress
SOPA and PIPA Internet blackout aftermath, staggering numbers
Anonymous wants to crash Facebook Jan. 28
(CBS) - The hacking group Anonymous announced Monday its plans to take down Facebook - again. Another YouTube video was released today with the same distorted voice announcing plans to launch an attack on the social network on Jan. 28.
"An online war has begun between Anonymous, the people and the government of the United States," said the YouTube video's narrator.
Full coverage of Anonymous at Tech Talk
Anonymous to take down Facebook on Guy Fawkes Day, who is Guy Fawkes?
Hackers attack SF transit website in protest
SOPA is dead, Smith pulls bill
CNET
(AP) - Yielding to strong opposition from the high tech community, Senate and House leaders said Friday they will put off further action on legislation to combat online piracy.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he was postponing a test vote set for Tuesday "in light of recent events." Those events included a petition drive by Google that attracted more than 7 million participants and a one-day blackout by the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
SOPA and PIPA Internet blackout aftermath, staggering numbers
House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, quickly followed suit, saying consideration of a similar House bill would be postponed "until there is wider agreement on a solution."
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Megaupload Anonymous hacker retaliation, nobody wins
Anonymous
But, every buzz has its hangover and this one was served up by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, when they took down online file storage site Megaupload Thursday. While the move was shocking on the heels of an Internet love-fest, it wasn't surprising. And, the events that followed exacerbated the issue.
Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
SOPA and PIPA Internet blackout aftermath, staggering numbers
SOPA and PIPA bills continue to lose supporters
SOPA and PIPA Internet blackout aftermath, staggering numbers
Google
(CBS) - The Internet sent a loud message to Congress in a coordinated blackout of websites on Jan. 18. to protest the anti-piracy bills, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA).
Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
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SOPA and PIPA bills continue to lose supporters
Twitter/RoyBlunt
(CBS) - A coordinated effort by over 7,000 websites to blackout their pages for a day on Jan. 18 has given lawmakers plenty of food for thought. The Internet blackout is to protest the anti-piracy bills, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA).
Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
Wednesday's blackout even rallied some quiet protestors to speak out. Facebook co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg turned to Facebook and made a rare appearance on Twitter to give this statement:
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Wikipedia outage sparks rage on Twitter
Twitter/HerpDerpedia
(CBS) - At midnight last night, Wikipedia took down its English language edition to protest the U.S. anti-piracy bills, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA).
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Websites go dark to protest SOPA
Wikipedia
The internet's most popular destinations have launched an audacious experiment in political activism by urging their users to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act. Wikipedia's English-language pages went completely black at 9 p.m. PT, with a splash page saying "the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet." The online encyclopedia's blackout, intended to precede next week's Senate floor vote on the legislation, is scheduled to last 24 hours. Continue »
Irony? SOPA, PIPA supporters blast Internet blackout
CHRIS USHER
(CBS) - In a bizarre twist to today's Internet strike, a handful of critics are blasting websites for staging a blackout of the web.
Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
Former senator and chief executive officer of the Motion Pictures Association of America Chris Dodd came out against Internet companies partaking in protests against controversial U.S. anti-piracy legislation.
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SOPA, PIPA today: Internet on strike!
Google
(CBS/CNET) - Google joins sites like Wikipedia, MoveOn, Reddit, BoingBoing, Mozilla, WordPress, TwitPic and the ICanHasCheezBurger network in a day-long protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA).
Full coverage of SOPA, PIPA at Tech Talk
SOPA opera: the Internet dukes it out with Congress
SOPA supporters facing boycotts, thanks to Reddit
SOPA opposition from tech heavyweights Google, Facebook
The bills represents the latest effort from the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, and their allies to counter what they view as rampant piracy on the Internet, especially offshore Web sites. CBS Corporation is among the media and entertainment companies that support the legislation.
Continue »Rupert Murdoch continues to attack Google, Obama over SOPA
AP Photo/Louis Lanzano
(CBS) - Media titan Rupert Murdoch is back on Twitter and blasting Google and President Obama over their stance on the anti-piracy bills Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA).
Full coverage of SOPA at Tech Talk
"Big bipartisan majorities both houses sold out by POTUS for search engines. How about 2.2 m workers in entertainment industry? Piracy rules," Murdoch tweeted.
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Wikipedia, MoveOn, Reddit, Mozilla shuts down to protest SOPA/PIPA, how to prepare
Prototype of Jan. 18 blackout screen designed by Wikipedia community.
/ WikipediaWikipedia's role in tomorrow's protest
Wikimedia Foundation executive director Sue Gardner made the announcement to join in the Internet blackout day started by link-sharing site Reddit on Jan. 16. The decision to shutdown was decided by the greater community that writes, edits and posts articles.
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SOPA opera: the Internet dukes it out with Congress
Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) says "the problem of rogue websites is real, immediate and widespread."
/ Getty ImagesSOPA stand-off
SOPA supporters remain steadfast as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform gears up to hear what opponents of the bill have to say on Jan. 18.
Full coverage of SOPA at Tech Talk
SOPA protest re-ignited with Reddit blackout, Wikipedia may join
SOPA opposition from tech heavyweights Google, Facebook
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