Google Updates Search Algorithms

Google announced today (8/10) that it is updating its search algorithms beginning next week to factor in valid copyright removal notices for sites. Those sites with higher numbers of removal notices may appear lower in search rankings, and therefore help users find legitimate sources of content more easily, such as a song on NPR’s website, streaming music on Spotify, or television on Hulu.

“This change is an important step in the right direction – a step we’ve been urging Google to take for a long time – and we commend the company for its action,” commented RIAA Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman in a response.

Google’s announcement goes on to say the company is now processing more copyright removal notices daily than the entirety of 2009. The company claims to have examined more than 4.3 million URLs in the past month, which will now be used in future searches.