Okay, I know we've all heard the term a thousand times, but I would really like to know what web-spam means. In it's new "trust-rank" patent, Google speaks of a sampling of results of which approximately 13% are web-spam. So when does a site cross the threshhold and become spam? Is it spam when a site sets up a landing page that is directed at one particular phrase or does it become spam when the site forces the user to click on the more important site instead? And where do affiliate sites or those which provide co-branding come into play? Will we be banned for having other people advertise our sites? What about an informational/resourceful page (a non-commercial site) which has a link to another page which brings in money (a commercial site). Aren't we getting mixed messages from Google. I want to be sure we all get this one correct. Also, this is exactly where Google is going with their new technology and you can be sure that if you are considered "web-spam," and they find out, in any way shape or form, you will be punished.
I see that they've trademarked trust rank, but that's all I know. They also have www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html. I assumed that trustrank would be something coming around in a year or two - but they made a point to make sure that nobody else could trademark it. Companies do that all the time. All the speculation I've seen would make it so it would be harder for new websites to get going and easier for established sites to maintain their standing... which I think is bad for the web in general.
Either way, nevetS makes a good point (not sure if this was his intended main point but what the heck): Companies patent/trademark stuff all the time that never gets used. Sometimes, it's about an idea/concept/dream they think might turn into something some day and they want to make sure they protect it before the inevitable zetgeist effect leading to someone else registering that patent/trademark. Sometimes, it's about an idea/conept they have no intention at the time of ever using but they register it to make sure no one else can. I do find it amusing how every time anyone at Google hiccups we get pages and pages of pronouncements in forums all over the globe about the latest "what Google is doing"... banning reciprocal links, penalizing rotating links or banners, you name it...
This does seem to be true as well. We do oftn spin our wheels when google comes out with a new idea. Additionally, we think that they have to power to implement anything that they think of just because they are able to determine where we stand in the SERPs on their page and since they are the most popular SE out there. I don't know if they will ever be able to completly stamp out "web-spam" no matter what new technologies they come up with. It is kind of like downloading free music without a license and preventing modification of xbox's, etc... There is always someone who can figure out the exception and make changes to benefit themselves. Then others catch on and the cycle repeats itself.
Google has trademarked Trust Rank and have filed for patents on the technology it uses. (still pending) Patents take forever to come back