Google Pirate Algorithm
The Google Pirate algorithm has nothing to do with finding treasure and one-eyed, one-legged pirates! The Google Pirate Algorithm pertains to copyright infringement. Piracy has been a big deal since the advent of the internet. Recognizing this, Google took steps to ensure that various sites do not use stolen content from other sites for their own benefit. With the Pirate algorithm update, such sites lose their rankings and are removed from Google’s search results. However, not all sites that engage in content theft are penalized; Google is still working to ensure that all these sites are fairly penalized, and content owners do not suffer from the illegal distribution of their content.
Launch Date: August 10, 2012
Although August 2012 was not the first time Google enacted copyright infringement rules, it was a major milestone for tracking and penalizing sites that published stolen content.
What Causes Your Site to Be Affected by the Google Pirate Algorithm?
There is only one factor for the Google Pirate Algorithm update: a website that publishes stolen content. Specifically, if your site is accused of copyright infringement, meaning you have published content that violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), you will feel the impact of the google Pirate Algorithm on your site.
In short, the DMCA states that providing stolen content of any kind, including text, images, videos, music, etc., is a crime. Given the vast scope of piracy, Google decided to increase its algorithmic oversight on sites that publish pirated content. If you have stolen or copied content on your site and several copyright infringement reports have been filed against you—especially reports filed by the original content owner—don’t think your ranking will only be affected and you’ll move from the first page of Google results to the second page! With the help of the Pirate Algorithm, Google ensures that you are completely removed from the SERP.
How Does Google Pirate Algorithm Work?
Piracy and copying of songs, movies, video games—basically any type of digital media or entertainment—have become significant issues in today’s world. Although Google cannot review every page on the internet to ensure there is no stolen or copied content, the Pirate Algorithm update penalizes sites that violate the copyright guidelines set by the DMCA.
Every month, Google receives and processes millions of takedown requests due to copyright infringement. However, since Google itself cannot determine if content is stolen—only courts can decide whether copyright has been genuinely violated—it does not remove any pages unless a valid copyright takedown notice is provided by the original content owner.
If a site is reported and Google determines that the report is valid, that site receives a significantly lower ranking in Google’s search results. Despite Google’s immense size and all the content it has indexed, such a site still has a little reputation to maintain! This site aims to work within the legal framework while simultaneously providing users exactly what they request. So, if someone enters a specific query for a movie, Google tries to avoid giving top SERP positions to sites with pirated content. The Pirate Algorithm update makes this possible.
Even if a user enters a movie title with the words “watch” or “download,” Google automatically filters out free streaming sites and offers legal options such as links to Netflix, Amazon, Google Play, and similar services. However, if you search directly by naming a movie, you can still access these pirate sites. If you perform general searches, such as “how to watch [movie] for free,” sites that publish pirated content will not appear in the organic search results.
How to Fix Your Website if It’s Affected by the Pirate Algorithm Update
If you notice a significant drop in your site’s rankings and traffic, ask yourself whether you have published illegal content on your site. This could range from blatant copyright infringement—such as offering movies for free to your site’s users—to more subtle cases, like background music in a video on your page. Using films, music, or images without the direct permission of the owner violates copyright laws! Sometimes, mistakes happen because you’re unaware of these laws or don’t think about them while editing content. However, if you’re intentionally posting copied and stolen content on your site, you must stop immediately! If you’ve previously published content on your site that could get you in trouble and you want to recover or prevent your site from being penalized by the Google Pirate Algorithm, here are a few actions you can take:
Remove DMCA-Violating Content
If you have pirated content, delete it. It’s that simple! Removing illegal content will ensure that the Pirate Algorithm has no reason to target and penalize you.
Keep Your Main Domain Separate
Many sites (possibly including yours) allow users to add content to various pages. In such cases, you should separate the main domain of your site from the user-generated content domain. You can’t always control what people post and whether it’s pirated or copied content, so this will help protect your main domain from potential penalties.
Final Thoughts
For most website owners, the Google Pirate Algorithm update won’t be an issue. Most sites penalized by this algorithm are actual pirate sites and know exactly what they’re doing. These sites are intentionally created to use stolen content. Google’s primary goal with this update is to penalize sites that deliberately provide stolen content. By lowering their rankings and removing them from organic search results, Google fulfills its duty to keep the internet free of illegal media.
