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They're back on Google, but keep in mind that they're seemingly not in a great position. Googling "justin beiber lyrics" doesn't show Rapgenius. Neither does

They're back on Google, but keep in mind that they're seemingly not in a great position. Googling "justin beiber lyrics" doesn't show Rapgenius. Neither does "lady gaga lyrics" or "tupac lyrics". In all three cases, azlyrics.com has the top spot.

deleted 13y ago
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bushido 13y ago
Edit: the reply is to the now reacted comment: > They're a startup, and this was a problem which was either going to kill them or be surmounted quickly. Naturally, they surmounted it quickly. Google laid out a clear plan of action for them. Is it hard to believe they finished it quickly? Yeah, most of the other sites I refer to were also start-ups by almost any definition. They did not quite finish their action plan. They got away on reasonable doubt. This is the first time I am seeing this defense considered by Google. I willing to bet any other non-vc funded bootstrapped start-up would never be afforded this consideration by Google. This rant is not a judgement on Rap Genius, I am actually glad they maneuvered around this. I am judging Google. They have killed other start-ups for reasons such as other sites farming and duplication their content more vehemently. Reasonable doubt has never been considered for anybody else and most likely will never be hence forth.
- ashray 13y ago
  I just want to add that this attitude doesn't even reflect poorly solely on Google Search. Adsense is another product that if you get kicked out of, you have zero recourse. What about that gmail fiasco a few months ago? Users got blocked out of G services for not providing their real names and had no recourse to get their data for several weeks/months. Just goes to show that in several cases it's not what you know but who you know.
freehunter 13y ago
I have never seen Rap Genius on Google, even before all of this. I've seen Metro Lyrics, AZ Lyrics, Song Meaning, etc. I've gone through pages of Google results because every lyrics site sucks, still haven't seen them. Everyone says Rap Genius is excellent, but I've never heard of them outside of HN. I find that odd.

deleted 13y ago

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bushido 13y ago

Edit: the reply is to the now reacted comment: > They're a startup, and this was a problem which was either going to kill them or be surmounted quickly. Naturally, they surmounted it quickly. Google laid out a clear plan of action for them. Is it hard to believe they finished it quickly? Yeah, most of the other sites I refer to were also start-ups by almost any definition. They did not quite finish their action plan. They got away on reasonable doubt. This is the first time I am seeing this defense considered by Google. I willing to bet any other non-vc funded bootstrapped start-up would never be afforded this consideration by Google. This rant is not a judgement on Rap Genius, I am actually glad they maneuvered around this. I am judging Google. They have killed other start-ups for reasons such as other sites farming and duplication their content more vehemently. Reasonable doubt has never been considered for anybody else and most likely will never be hence forth.

ashray 13y ago
I just want to add that this attitude doesn't even reflect poorly solely on Google Search. Adsense is another product that if you get kicked out of, you have zero recourse. What about that gmail fiasco a few months ago? Users got blocked out of G services for not providing their real names and had no recourse to get their data for several weeks/months. Just goes to show that in several cases it's not what you know but who you know.

freehunter 13y ago

I have never seen Rap Genius on Google, even before all of this. I've seen Metro Lyrics, AZ Lyrics, Song Meaning, etc. I've gone through pages of Google results because every lyrics site sucks, still haven't seen them. Everyone says Rap Genius is excellent, but I've never heard of them outside of HN. I find that odd.