That being said, I think there are PLENTY of lawsuits and legal arguments just waiting to be made against Google. Hopefully those will happen before it is indeed too late.

Thanks for the great comment! We never mind a good rant around here.

Which of course really sucks as it both puts a stranglehold on a sites ability to earn revenue, and as you point out, is dishonest too, as neither the seller or the advertsier are wary of any reduction in value.

We read about armies of asian reviewers who supposedly scan sites and identify those participating in paid link exchanges - we all know about their eval team docs from old, or was that just another conspiracy too?

Ultimately, they are acting like some 1800lb Greedy MF Gorilla, not content with owning most of the jungle already, wanting to have all the trees and bananas for itself. Sooner or later the bounty hunters will come and shoot its arse.

No group of private unelected undemocratic in it for themselves group of individuals should have such dominion over the lives and fortunes of so many people. Regardless of its private status, regardless of it being a simple for profit entity - Would we allow a water company, or an electricity company to just switch people off without dialogue or debate or recognition of the damage that such a withdrawl would cause? Of course not.

Its all a little late though now isn’t it? They are too powerful too wealthy - money buys silence and lawyers and court time and political patronage.

Oh dear, Ive ranted it seems :D

So do you REALLY think Google is expending energy on this battle or are they just talking it up to incite fear?