Google Will Penalize Sites Repeatedly Accused Of Copyright Infringement

[Chenzo]

Has someone filed a large number of DMCA “takedown” requests against your site? If so, look out. That’s the latest penalty that may cause you to rank lower in Google’s search results. It joins other penalties such as “Panda” and “Penguin.” We’re dubbing it the “Emanuel Update” in honor of Hollywood mogul Ari Emanuel, who helped prompt it.

Read more here:

http://searchengineland.com/dmca-requests-now-used-in-googles-ranking-algorithm-130118

• What do you guys think MOZERS?

[EGOL]

blogspot.com and youtube.com rankings should fall through the floor!    They host an awful lot of stolen content.        

[Klarke]

They won't.  It seems DMCA requests are handled differently for those sites and not counted the same way.

...and even if you were counted, you have to remember this isn't a "penalty".  I don't understand why SEL is calling it a penalty when the official announcement says it'll be one of the 200+ signals.

So I think it's an algo factor.  Just like Site Speed is a factor.   Slow sites still rank today because there's 200+ other factors also being considered.