Heads Up: Google Granted Patent on Invisible Text and Hidden Links

Smeems

Smeems

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Source: http://www.seobythesea.com/2013/03/google-invisible-text-hidden-links/

Going on some of the Google TOS, this new technology will include:


  • Using white text on a white background
  • Locating text behind an image
  • Using CSS to position text off-screen
  • Setting the font size to 0
  • Hiding a link by only linking one small character?for example, a hyphen in the middle of a paragraph

And more.

Not sure how many people are doing this at BHW, but with the patent now granted, it could mean the technology becomes part of the algorithm soon. This would mean that sites doing this sort of thing might get detected a lot quicker than the current manual methods.

Just a quick PSA, share around if relevant.
 
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Hello, thank you for the information, I have to edit some of my sites before its too late:)
 
I don't think google needs a patent or permission from anyone to penalize your site if they have invisible text/links with keywords on it.

It is cloaking.. and since 2009 you will be penalized for that. I'm also sure that their algo has already included to detect such things.
 
tb303 said:
that patent was filed in august 2009
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&S1=08392823&OS=PN/08392823&RS=PN/08392823

They dont have to wait for the patent to be granted before implementing changes.
Its interesting its taken 3 years to be granted - or is that usual for a patent?
Click to expand...

It's pretty usual actually, there is a huge amount waiting in line for review at the patent office in most countries.
People are filing patent for everything, it is almost as saturated as buying exact domain match.
 
Thank you for the share! I guess we better toe in or get slapped by Google.
 
This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. If you're still trying to cheat the search engines by using hidden text, links behind pictures, and other obvious nonsense you're about 5 years behind.
 
Background colour text - I remember when that was the big thing when altavista was king in about 1999!
 
I thought that they could already detect that, I tried to use white text on
a white background before and go nailed quick, that was over a year ago.
 
I agree, but also do notice that many of the highest competition niches are doing just that and it works very, very well! (albeit for a period of a few months before the sites are ultimately deindexed)

Sceptre said:
This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. If you're still trying to cheat the search engines by using hidden text, links behind pictures, and other obvious nonsense you're about 5 years behind.
Click to expand...
 
Aw crap. Now the New York Times is going to be penalized for having tabs in their right column that has hidden content until you click it. Or not.

Maybe Google will penalize some of the more stupid methods of hiding content, but honestly ... how many themes have content toggling? There's nothing Google will ever do about it.

Even Google hides content, you don't see the cache and picture of a page unless you hover your mouse over an arrow.

Google's move with this patent is a PR move and nothing else. They want people to freak out and not hide content ... just the fact this thread got started accomplishes their goal. They can detect white on white now, o'rly? lol Poor Bing can never stop hidden content from ranking now ... Google the patent troll.
 
What about them hiding the links on Youtube videos as well? You will notice that the links are white on a white background. The only time you see those links change color to the standard blue hyperlink is when you place your cursor over into the description area. Some could argue, it provides less distraction on a video.

I believe their intent is to get people to see their ads more clearly, make more money and screw everyone else for adding value to Youtube. Like always, Google's attitude - do as we say, not as we do.
 
Thanks for the info.. not good.. not good at all though :-/
 
Google can file all the patents they want. True blackhatters will always be a step ahead.
 
How funny to see google void there own tos all the time
 
I cloak with some olschool methods and they still work. Google will never be able to beat us.
 
Google does everything they tell you not to do. They place all ads above the fold, not clearly marked as ads, sneakily placed on a light yellow background that basically looks like search results.

Google scrapes the hell out of everyone and presents that information on their pages, for their own profit.

So about this patent, google probably registered this for their own benefit, they're probably gonna start cloaking too.
 
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