Google Will Eat Itself

[andre75]

Check this out:
http://www.gwei.org
The name of the project:
Google will eat itself
The idea:
A bunch of people have generated a bunch of websites that use Adsense. They use the profits to buy google shares.
So far nothing wrong with it.
They have a counter that says they will own google after about 200 Mio Years :D
The problematic thing is that they click each others ads, thus violating the terms of adsense.
Since they are not disclosing who they are, Google cannot do much.

It always amazes me what kind of ideas people come up with.

[sd2001]

If they all buy Google stock and all have Adsense, I'm sure Google could cross-reference the two databanks, outing them.

That is, if they are so stupid as to have their Adsense under the same name as their stock, which there is no doubt there has to be a few that do.

[andre75]

It says something about a swiss bank account and automatic stock purchase via a broker. I don't think the swiss broker would disclose the identities.

[frisby]

Smart idea and stupid idea at the same time.

But these are just new guys with too much free time.

[andre75]

I read it on a german news site. Its supposed to be an art project. They are the same guys messing around with Amazon.com.
On the amazon project they wrote a script and distributed it across many computers to rip off books through the "search inside this book" feature.
The script then puts the pieces together into the complete books.
Seems like someone is just asking for trouble.
However so far Google keeps sending the cheques and their account looks pretty good.

EDIT: If I buy one share and refuse to sell their project will fail ;-)

[venturefox]

Apparently they arent too clever, besides the fact that Google will always be outgrowing them.. It probably wouldent take a rep too long to analyse those google checks to find who they are. All they have to do is cross-reference the dates, issuing locations and amount received. It wouldent be too hard to narrow down the culprits.

[andre75]

I am not sure thats possible, considering the trading volume of the stock. Also since there are many people involved pooling their cheques, it will be impossible to track.
If they added some random waiting days (before purchase) it will be impossible to track.
I am not even sure its in Google's interest. They get a share of the advertising revenue and they get they stocks sold (price development).

[venturefox]

I am not sure thats possible, considering the trading volume of the stock. Also since there are many people involved pooling their cheques, it will be impossible to track.
If they added some random waiting days (before purchase) it will be impossible to track.
I am not even sure its in Google's interest. They get a share of the advertising revenue and they get they stocks sold (price development).

Im not sure its true, but the fact they are using a "hidden network" suggests they are using illegitimate methods to generate the money. Probably by clicking each others ads as mentioned above - this is against the Adsense T&C and definitely not in Google's interests.

[PinotNoir]

It says something about a swiss bank account and automatic stock purchase via a broker. I don't think the swiss broker would disclose the identities.

I don't think they need a swiss bank account for this 94 Euro check.

http://www.gwei.org/img/cheque/Google_Cheque_03_GWEI.gif

[dastuff]

Well it is interesting... Makes me want to go out and do something random :)

[andre75]

I don't think they need a swiss bank account for this 94 Euro check.

http://www.gwei.org/img/cheque/Google_Cheque_03_GWEI.gif

LOL. I thought Google automatically sends a cheque when you hit $100. Maybe they had adsense running for years and maybe not. Maybe they have a network of hundreds of people and maybe not, who cares.
In fact I don't, I was simply having a good laugh at the cockiness of these guys and their "In your Face" attitude towards the big corporations.
I thought you'd find the idea hilarious and move on. It's not meant to be taken seriously. You can see this by their claim that they will own Google after 200 Mio Years at their current run rate.

[andre75]

Well it is interesting... Makes me want to go out and do something random :)

O.K. If you decide to "do something random" to MySpace I am in :D
How about an automated way to generate profiles, put random images (images.google.com) there and randomly invite friends. Maybe someone can generate another 50Mio junk profiles.

[billyzelsnack]

I think they are just using the idea as linkbait. If they make a few extra dollars in the process, that's just cake.

[Scarface.]

they will get banned, because if you have the same ips clicking your ads you'll get banned.

[hextraordinary]

If they all buy Google stock and all have Adsense, I'm sure Google could cross-reference the two databanks, outing them.

That is, if they are so stupid as to have their Adsense under the same name as their stock, which there is no doubt there has to be a few that do.

Do you have any idea how many people around the world trade Google stock every day?

[sd2001]

Do you have any idea how many people around the world trade Google stock every day?

They aren't trading. They're holding. That would make it even easier to track them.

[starke]

It's the type of idea that will make these guys rich. Kind of funny, but exposes holes in the system.

They'll probably have an infomercial on how they made millions from adwords...