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Search EngineMPAA Sues BitTorrent Tracker Site Search Engine TorrentspyAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 28, 2006 - 11:00am.
London - The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has sued Torrentspy, a search engine that provides search results of sites providing movie downloads on the BitTorrent file-sharing network, the BBC reported. Torrentspy itself does not host any copyrighted material, but merely points to third-party sites that host bits of a large movie file, called torrents. For its part, Torrentspy has filed a motion to have the federal lawsuit dismissed in Los Angeles. "This appears to be the first case where major Hollywood studios are suing a search engine that does not even link to any files copyrighted by Hollywood. The MPAA is in essence trying to outlaw the torrent file format," Torrentspy attorney Ira Rothken told the BBC. Rothken added that the site had previously cooperated with the MPAA in removing links to certain torrent files, and "cannot be held 'tertiary' liable for visitors' conduct that occurs away from its Web search engine." The MPAA has successfully targeted a number of the larger torrent tracker sites, including SuprNova and TorrentBits, but has not yet challenged the legality of a search engine that provides links to tracker sites, like Torrentspy.
Oodle Launches Local Classifieds Search Engine in 23 New MarketsAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 1, 2005 - 4:22am.
San Mateo, Calif. - Oodle, a search engine for local classifieds, said on Tuesday that it has launched in 23 new markets, including such cities as Baltimore, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Orlando and Pittsburgh. The company now operates in 49 metro areas.
IODA to Promote Indie Artists on GoFish Multimedia Search EngineAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on October 7, 2005 - 7:34am.
San Francisco - GoFish Technologies, a provider of multimedia search engine technology, announced that it has partnered with the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA), a digital distributor of independent label music, to make IODA promotional content available on GoFish. Under the deal, IODA will distribute thousands of pre-cleared, legal music tracks, videos, artwork and other promotional assets on GoFish, from artists on the 750 independent labels in the IODA network. San Francisco-based GoFish said its multimedia search engine currently indexes over 70 million audio and video files.
Report: Google Remains Top U.S. Search Engine in JulyAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 19, 2005 - 8:13am.
Reston, Va. -- Google maintained its lead in the U.S. search market in July, conducting 36.5% of all Internet searches, according to new statistics from comScore Media Metrix. The company beat out Yahoo (30.5%), MSN (15.5%) and Dulles-based America Online (9.9%). comScore said that the total volume of online searches conducted in the U.S. reached more than 4.8 billion, up 22% from a year ago, with Google, Yahoo, MSN, Time AOL, Ask Jeeves and InfoSpace accounting for 99.4% of all searches.
BitTorrent to Launch Search Engine with Ask Jeeves Sponsored LinksAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 23, 2005 - 6:55am.
San Francisco -- The developers behind the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing application plan to soon launch an advertising-supported search engine that will index the movies, songs, software and other files available on the network, Wired News reported. Sponsored links on the search engine will be provided through Ask Jeeves. The search engine, expected to launch within two weeks, will on one hand make it easier for many users to find files on BitTorrent, while at the same time providing a potential target to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which has recently sued operators of BitTorrent servers. Without a centralized index, like the one the search engine will create, the MPAA and others have thus far only been able to target individuals operating the various servers across the world that host "torrent" files. "One of the differences between BitTorrent and Kazaa has been that there's a central Kazaa company... There hasn't been a similar centralized service or site associated with BitTorrent, and now there is," Stanford law professor Mark Lemley told Wired News.
Search Engine Ask Jeeves Acquires Excite EuropeAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on May 20, 2005 - 7:10am.
Oakland -- Ask Jeeves, the provider of Internet search and advertising services, said on Friday that it has paid an undisclosed amount to acquire Excite Italia, the operator of Excite Europe, a network of pan-European portal properties, from Tiscali. The move comes a little more than year after Ask Jeeves acquired the U.S.-operated Excite.com portal. "This deal is a next step in Ask Jeeves' European expansion strategy," said Steve Berkowitz, the CEO of Ask Jeeves. The deal will give Ask Jeeves ownership of Excite's Internet domains throughout Europe as well as control of existing portal offerings in several major European markets including Spain, Italy, France, the U.K., Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Excite has offered search and portal services since 1995.
Study: Few Search Engine Users Show Exclusive AllegianceAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 28, 2005 - 3:49am.
New York -- Most people who use Internet search engines don't have an exclusive allegiance to a particular site, according to new research from Nielsen/NetRatings. The firm found that users of the top three search engines -- Google, Yahoo and MSN -- often like to switch off between the sites. Specifically, 58% of Google searchers, 71% of Yahoo searchers and 70% of MSN searchers said that they also have visited at least one of the other top two search engines. "While it shouldn't surprise anyone that Google is the search engine to beat, it is critical that all of the major search players, including Google, recognize that they exclusively own only a minority of their users," said Ken Cassar, the director of strategic analysis at Nielsen/NetRatings. "This highlights an opportunity and a threat to all of the established players in the market, and underscores the importance of continued innovation in a highly competitive market that is anything but mature."
Search Engine Provider Ask Jeeves Acquires BloglinesAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 8, 2005 - 3:05am.
Oakland, Calif. -- Ask Jeeves, a provider of search engine and online ad services, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Trustic, the parent company of free online blogging tools provider Bloglines. Financial terms of the deal, which parallels rival search engine Google's acquisition of Blogger.com, were not disclosed. Founded in 2003, Redwood City, Calif.-based Bloglines currently indexes more than 280 million news feeds, blog articles, images, audio and video elements, providing its services in seven languages. Oakland-based Ask Jeeves said it plans to integrate Bloglines' RSS aggregation capabilities with its Teoma algorithmic search technology. "Bloglines is a natural fit for our multi-brand portfolio, as we extend our information retrieval services to encompass the rapidly growing amount of dynamic content and information available in the blogosphere," said Jim Lanzone, senior vice president of search properties for Ask Jeeves.
Microsoft Launches Long-Awaited MSN Search Engine ServiceAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on February 1, 2005 - 3:58am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft on Tuesday launched its long-awaited search engine service, and announced plans for a massive ad campaign to promote the new MSN Search as a better alternative to Google and others. MSN Search will replace former partner Yahoo's search listings; Microsoft did not say if it will continue to use paid search listings from Yahoo's Overture Services past 2006, when the contract expires. Available in 10 languages and 25 countries, the service allows users to target searches to the Web, news, images, music, desktop or Microsoft's Encarta online encyclopedia. A search for a recording artist, song or album in the U.S. will return links to song samples and the ability to purchase and download tracks from MSN Music. The company plans to promote the new MSN Search with an ad campaign it expects to reach 90% of U.S. consumers and several hundred million others globally, including ads during the Super Bowl and Grammys. "This built-from-the-ground-up version of MSN Search provides an infrastructure that enables us to rapidly innovate and give consumers precisely the information they're looking for, no matter where it's located," said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of the MSN Information Services & Merchant Platform division at Microsoft. Currently, Google provides 34.7% of all searches, followed by Yahoo (31.9%) and MSN (16.3%).
Blinkx Launches Search Engine for Online TV, Radio ContentAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on December 16, 2004 - 10:52am.
San Francisco -- A San Francisco-based start-up launched a service on Thursday that lets users search for audio and video from streams provided by radio and TV stations, and access clips over the Internet. The beta version of Blinkx TV culls multimedia content from sources including HBO, Bloomberg, Fox News, NPR and the BBC, and lets users create Video Smart Folders that will populate themselves with content based on parameters set by users. Instead of typical Boolean keyword search, the blinkx service features a patented "Context Clustering Technology," which utilizes automatic transcription technology and advanced phonetic matching speech recognition technology to index audio and video content. "Using smart, contextual search, blinkx links users to relevant clips anywhere in the video stream, delivering video content straight from the television to the consumer's PC," said blinkx CEO Mark Opzoomer.
RSS-Based News Search Engine Feedster Receives FinancingAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on December 10, 2004 - 3:11am.
San Francisco -- Feedster, a news search engine that delivers results from over 1 million RSS and weblog syndicated sources, announced that it received an undisclosed amount of funding from Omidyar Network, a venture capital firm created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. The company has also received funding from members of the New York Angels. Feedster culls its results from 50,000 professional news sources, including The New York Times, BBC and CNET, in addition to hundreds of thousands of independently-produced news websites, and sorts the results by source type. The company recently teamed with WashingtonPost.com to facilitate the selection of nominees for that site's "The Best Blogs -- Politics & Elections 2004 Readers' Choice Awards." "We recognize that Feedster is fulfilling a need in the marketplace by delivering more relevant information from individual commentary, blogs, and edited news sources," said Doug Solomon, vice president of investments for Omidyar Network. "By leveling the playing field between consumers, web services developers, traditional media publishers and organizations, Feedster enables the public to create a richer, more diverse and connected exchange of information."
Google Launches Search Engine for Scientists, Other ResearchersAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 18, 2004 - 4:53am.
Mountain View, Calif. -- Google on Thursday introduced a new search engine called Google Scholar, which specifically targets scientists and the world of academia. The currently ad-free search engine will feature results culled from scientific and academic journals, peer-reviewed papers, books and other sources. Google has agreements to index online materials from the Association of Computing Machinery, Nature, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Online Computer Library Center, The New York Times reported. In addition to providing actual online texts, Google Scholar also provides citations and information on how to find materials not located online.
Yahoo Launches Local Search Engine ServiceAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on August 3, 2004 - 3:47am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Yahoo on Tuesday launched a test of a new local search engine service, which will offer advertisers the opportunity to target users searching for local businesses. The company cited Kelsey Group data indicating that as many as one in four of all Internet searches have a local intent. The local search service will index the 14 million businesses found on Yahoo's Yellow Pages listings, and allow users to search by zip code and provide reviews and ratings for local businesses. Yahoo rival Google launched a similar local search service in March.
Search Engine Marketing Firm Fathom Online Raises $6 MillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on July 29, 2004 - 3:59am.
San Francisco -- Fathom Online, a San Francisco-based provider of search engine marketing services, said that it has secured $6 million in its first round of private equity financing from Constellation Ventures, a Bear Stearns Asset Management Venture Capital Fund and private investors. Launched in 2002, Fathom partners with brands such as Google, Yahoo, FindWhat, Business.com, DoubleClick and Quigo Technologies to provide keyword marketing services to online advertising clients. The company, which recently opened additional offices in New York, said that it expects its 2004 sales to be about 450% higher than those a year ago.
Yahoo Launches Search Engine in ChinaAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2004 - 8:23am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Yahoo on Monday launched a new search engine destination for Chinese Internet users, Yisou, which translates as "No. 1 search" in English. The launch comes a week after rival Google made its first foray into China with the purchase of a minority stake in Chinese search engine Baidu.com. "The introduction of Yisou will help extend our reach into the rapidly growing search market in China," said Yahoo North Asia vice president David Lu. Recent state data shows that China has the second-largest Internet population, after the U.S., with 80 million residents online.
Search Engine Firm Ask Jeeves Acquires Desktop Search Provider TukarooAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on June 10, 2004 - 10:33am.
Emeryville, Calif. -- In a move into the desktop search market, where larger rivals Google and Microsoft are making headway, search engine provider Ask Jeeves announced that it has acquired Tukaroo, a San Jose, Calif.-based developer of desktop search technology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2003, Tukaroo makes desktop search and file management software designed to enable users to access, view and manage data on their computers in real-time. Steve Berkowitz, the CEO of Ask Jeeves, said that the acquisition fits in with the company's growth strategy, which it began in 2002 with the acquisition of the Teoma search engine.
Creative Commons Launches Music Sharing License, Content Search EngineAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 19, 2004 - 4:58am.
Austin, Texas -- Creative Commons, a non-profit whose goal is to increase the number of freely-usable media works through non-restrictive copyright terms, announced this week the launch of a new music sharing license and Get Content search engine at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. The music sharing license allows musicians to clearly mark their songs as free to download and share while protecting their commercial and other rights. Works copyrighted under the Creative Commons music sharing license will then also be indexed in the organization's new Get Content search engine. In addition to music, the Get Content index also includes video, images, text and educational content whose owners have stipulated that their works may be shared freely and in many cases used in new commercial works or made into derivative works.
Google Launches Localized Search Engine ServiceAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 17, 2004 - 5:14am.
Mountain View, Calif. -- Search engine giant Google on Wednesday launched a new service called Google Local, offering search results including local information with neighborhood business listings, maps, directions and other useful Web pages. The service can help U.S. users find local restaurants, Wi-Fi hot-spots and other destinations, view maps and print driving directions. Google also plans to include local information for international markets in the coming months. "Google's goal is to connect searchers with the information they need whether it's half-way around the world or in their neighborhood," said Google president and co-founder Sergey Brin. "Google Local combines a wide array of sources including Google's more than 4 billion web page index, to produce the deepest local search."
Search Engine Contextual Ad Developer Quigo Raises $5 MillionAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on March 1, 2004 - 7:20am.
New York -- Quigo Technologies, a developer of search engine marketing technologies including contextual advertising solutions, announced on Monday that it has raised $5 million in its first round of funding, from Highland Capital Partners. In connection with the funding, Lycos founder Bob Davis, now with Highland Capital, will take a seat on Quigo's board of directors. New York-based Quigo's products AdSonar and FeedPoint are used by partners including Overture Services and AltaVista to provide publishers and advertisers with more precise methods of targeting consumers with the ads they place on Internet search engines. The company will use the funds to support growth and the continued research and development of its search and contextual advertising technologies.
America Online Acquires Singingfish Streaming Media Search EngineAuthored by Mark Hefflinger on November 19, 2003 - 7:23am.
Dulles, Va. -- America Online on Wednesday announced that it has acquired Seattle-based Singingfish, provider of a search engine for streaming audio and video files. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. AOL has incorporated Singingfish's search index into its AOL Search service, allowing users to search "Audio" and "Video." The company also debuted new search features that allow members to perform localized entertainment searches that return results found in their local geographic area. AOL also said it recently introduced a News Search feature, which culls stories from "a variety of trusted news sources," to compete with similar services offered by Google and more recently Microsoft's MSN Newsbot.
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