Xenu.net Comments on its removal from the Google search engine.
FLASH: This Usenet post from Andreas Heldal-Lund, webmaster of xenu.net, indicates that Google has removed links from its search engine based on a DMCA notification from the cult of Scientology. If true, this has huge repercussions for the entire Internet--sites will disappear from the Google search engine based upon a mere allegation that they MIGHT be infringing--in other words, based upon the mere opinion of a copyright holder. In light of AOL's recent smash victory in which it was proven that the DMCA provided it immunity, Google's decision seems bizarre, and even suicidal. Note that these Scientology allegations are nothing new. This cult has been shopping their laundry list of bogus allegations around to anyone who would listen for years. They have never to date filed an infringement suit, although they have had years to do so. The obvious reason for this is that Xenu.net contains no infringing content.
QUICK AND DIRTY LINK LIST: A few links to the developing story concerning the disappearance of Xenu.net from Google. Scientology conspiracy? Google revenge? Inadvertent fallout from overzealous supporters of the site? Only Google knows.
Xenu.net Comments
Kuro5hin thread
Daily Rotten article
Microcontent article on "Google Bombs"
Slashdot subthread on "Search Engine Payola"
Search for "Scientology Google search" on Google Groups (some but not all ongoing Usenet threads)
UPDATE: 20 March 2002: For some