Google supplies the tools for the newspaper to have marked explicitly, using technology, the pages they want included/excluded from search, with no ambiguity.

Google supplies the tools for the newspaper to have marked explicitly, using technology, the pages they want included/excluded from search, with no ambiguity. Instead, they chose to use vague, court language, with threat of a fine per link, to force google's hand. Personally, I don't know why google -wouldn't- drop them, permanently. There is no monopoly on web search. Search works for everyone, specifically because there are established protocols and conventions that allow all these systems to work together. If your company chooses to ignore these conventions, I don't think it is unreasonable that you get ignored. You don't have a -right- to be included in a web search. The reason google includes you (or any search engine) is because you are making a trade, they get better results which they can monetize via ads, you get more traffic, which you monetize through ads. If you opt out, why shouldn't they? What's in it for them? They aren't running a charity, they are running a business.