News Summary: Google to downgrade pirate sites

News Summary: Google to downgrade pirate sites

By The Associated Press

SEARCH TWEAKS: Google Inc. is altering its search results to de-emphasize the websites of repeat copyright offenders.

WHAT THIS MEANS: By bumping down those sites, it will make it easier for people to find legitimate providers of music, movies and other content.

THE CONTEST: The move is a peace offering to Hollywood and the music recording labels. Google's relationship with content creators has been icy over the years. Among other things, a $1 billion copyright lawsuit filed by Viacom against Google's YouTube was re-instated by a federal appeals court.

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