Anyone else know much about the Google Pirate penalty?

[AndyMacLean]

The Google 'Pirate' (no official name) seems to have gone largely undiscussed since it was launched last - Fri 10th August http://insidesearch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/an-update-to-our-search-algorithms.html. The idea of it is to ensure those 'Pirating' content or abusing trademarks e.g. fake ugg boot sites and file sharing sites do not appear higher in the search results than the genuine websites. Google is using DMCA take down requests for labeling sites as Pirate and demote their rankings,

Im amazed not even seomoz has covered the subject yet as far as I can see, yet it is a hugely important new update, albeit affecting a relatively small number of sites now, and in some cases (at least one I know first hand) seemingly without justification (the example I know is not a file sharing, fake goods, trademark abusive site at all.)

Google updating its search algorithm based on DMCA take down requests seems a bit strong - these are takedown requests, not legal proof that a site is infringing a trademark. A real weapon for negative SEO?

Anyone else had experience of the pirate update or know much more about it? Outside Danny Sullivan I dont see many SEO folk covering it.

Heres my own insights into it and what ive learned about what (only innocently) affected sites should do to appeal http://www.andy-maclean.net/the-google-pirate-dmca-guidance/

[OlegKorneitchouk]

The update is nicknames the Emanuel update and it affects the sites on this list: http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/removals/copyright/domains/?r=all-time

It's not getting nearly as much attention as Panda/Penguin because it affects a very small subsection of websites.

Pretty comprehensive post about the update (by Danny Sullivan) - http://searchengineland.com/dmca-requests-now-used-in-googles-ranking-algorithm-130118

Personal note: I have analytic access to a HUGE torrent site that has had 6k+ url's (<1% indexed urls) requested to be removed - Aug 10th had no change in organic google traffic. Based on this, I feel like there were close to no changes in serps.

[Marcus_Miller]

Arrghhhhh, well blow me down, if only they named it the pirate penalty, such an opportunity for pirate blogging hilarity me harties!

I think this is small beans for most people and is just another tweak to better assign or remove trust to a given site and use that in the ranking signals.