Around the Net

Google says Microsoft 'Stealing' Search Results

In a tech world spat of unprecedented proportions, Google is calling out Microsoft for allegedly "stealing" its search results. Breaking the story wide open, Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan wrote on Tuesday: "Google has run a sting operation that it says proves Bing has been watching what people search for on Google, the sites they select from Google's results, then uses that information to improve Bing's own search listings. Bing doesn't deny this."On its Bing blog, Microsoft admits to collecting click-stream data from customers when they use Bing and other search engines, including Google.



Yet  "This allegation that we're copying their results wholesale is disingenuous," Bing spokesman Stefan Weitz tells Fast Company. "We've always said we use clickstream data, with people's permission, to improve the quality of search." Under the headline of the month, "Wow, Microsoft And Google Are Punching Each Other In The Face Right In Front Of Us!" TechCrunch writes "They're straight-up calling each other liars on Twitter, and their own very popular blogs!"



Indeed, Microsoft communication head Frank Shaw has been setting Twitter on fire over past 24-hours with tweets like: "Don't be fooled. Google wants to change subject because they're under investigation in the US and Europe for manipulating search results." Still, with billions of ad dollars at stake, it's no surprise that Google and Microsoft are so ferociously protective of their search businesses. 

By most estimates, Bing has recently been making headway into the search market, and Google is likely sensitive to that fact. Notes Daily Tech: "At Google, this trend is certainly a concern as the company doesn't want to lose its search lead -- and the money that comes with it."

Read the whole story at Search Engine Land »

1 comment about "Google says Microsoft 'Stealing' Search Results".
Check to receive email when comments are posted.
  1. Craig Mcdaniel from Sweepstakes Today LLC, February 2, 2011 at 1:26 p.m.

    Microsoft didn't steal a thing from Google. I work closely with both and can say that Google lost at least my business over their change in their algorithm. I had paid over $31,000 for just one word and they recently rejected this word over a low (2 points) "Quality Score".

    Get this, I talked with a Google Adwords rep on the phone and he said "the $31,000 didn't matter to Google". Whoa!!! I am sure stockholders would like to hear this. Worse, I took my $31,000 of business to Adcenter.

    Google, I don't need to be insulted and you don't need my ad money.

Next story loading loading..