[Agnafl]

Originally Posted by CLTMichael

And they are idiots!

Agreed! However, after talking to an attorney the specializes in internet law, we do not have to do a damn thing to remove those old links and/or advertisements. Thats the good part. Here is the bad part. The board and or the real estate commission can deny membership if I choose to not cooperate. That could be a problem! I am sure that it could be handled in a court of law but the time energy and money would be insane....balls in a vice

[Malok]

I would hope, that even the most technologically backward board, would understand the "old ad in a phone book & expecting you to collect those old phone books" example that Scott provided.


You do NOT own/control those other sites. And you do not own/control Google.


THEY are the ones "advertising you" for that particular search. Not you.

[NealRM]

Even if you could take down all the links today, it may take Google some time before it stops ranking you for a keyword. If the pages where the links reside are not crawled by Google regularly, they could stay in their cache for some time.

[Logan UT Real Estate Gal]

I moved brokerages about 5 months ago, and I was ranking pretty well for my other brokerages searches. I am glad that the owner doesn't know what a search engine is, or she may have been upset about that one. I didn't do any more optimization for that brokerage after I left, but I do still show up in the rankings.

[bnicolas]

Originally Posted by Logan UT Real Estate Gal

I am glad that the owner doesn't know what a search engine is, or she may have been upset about that one.

I just had to quote this line. It is sad but so fre@king true that I just found it hilarious!!!

on a more serious note you will probably win your case but like you said, the time and cost is what you don't want to deal with. If you do consult an attorney find out if there is a "prevailing party" clause in your MLS/Association rules. Basically that means that if they drag you through a legal battle and you win, the loser has to pay the winners legal fees.

Disclosure: I'm not a lawyer but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

[jefftd77]

I wouldn't waste your time worrying about it......

It sounds like it's one clueless person that's causing the problems....... and your board/commission will likely be comprised of a group of people where at least one will understand how the internet works and that you aren't responsible for what's on other people's websites....

If people were responsible for what's on other people's sites.... I would put a link to another brokerage in my area on my site.... then call that brokerage and tell them to remove it from my site. sounds kinda stupid to me......

[brandonre]

Here is the bad part. The board and or the real estate commission can deny membership if I choose to not cooperate. That could be a problem! I am sure that it could be handled in a court of law but the time energy and money would be insane....balls in a vice

Are they threatening to deny your membership? It amazes me that you can be put in a situation to have to defend yourself when you are 100% in the right. Because of their lack of knowledge of technology you will be forced to spend time and money, its pretty sad. Good luck and wish you all the best keep us posted.

[nzrealestate]

man some people are picky little pricks, id say that it would just be 1 know it all in the company that came across a cached search result with her name on it, legally you are under no obligation to go out of your way and remove links, you have done what is needed by removing association with c21, and that is all.

[Arizona Real Estate]

I pretty much agree with everyone. Don't worry about it. You DO NOT have to remove the links. Hint: Don't use the company for a backlink

[Agnafl]

What is comical about all of this is if you search many of the agents in that very office, they still rank for a past brokerage that they worked for, with a title that mentions the old office name! funny how that is the very thing that they are on my back about.....