Record labels and other content owners want Google to do more to crackdown on pirated content, but the search engine isn't reportedly interested in helping out unless paid first.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) requested Google make it easier for pirated material to be discovered. Using a custom "Site Search" Web search API, Google could provide search queries for the RIAA -- but wants $5 for every 1,000 search queries.
"As always, Google honors valid legal removal requests," Google representatives told CNET. "We don't charge for removals and have no plans to. We have a great relationship with the music industry and have worked consistently with them to advance their interests through services like YouTube ContentID, our music search feature, and our developer tools."
Google, which easily remains the No. 1 search engine with 66% search engine market share, has come under pressure from copyright holders and other groups that want search engines to police content.
The reason Google wants to begin charging, however, is because copyright groups plan to go on a fishing expedition to find pirated content. If given information about pirated material, Google continues to efficiently remove material -- but isn’t interested in doing the RIAA’s dirty work.
Since Google is looking to work with music and movie studios for the company's Google TV and online music service, reluctance to help crackdown on piracy could sour ongoing negotiations. Expect the copyright trade groups to use their influence in negotiations to try and see if a deal can be reached.
I don't think it's Google's responsibility to make it easier for the copyright groups to find pirated material -- and making them pay a fee seems like an appropriate idea. Google and both sides will work out their issues as the search engine company looks to expand its already growing living room and online music businesses.
