Google has announced via a blogpost that it will change its search algorithm to take into account the number of valid copyright removal notices it has received for a particular website. The intention is that websites in relation to which Google receives a high number of notices will appear low down in the search results.
In the blog, Google also confirms that the change in algorithm will not mean that copyright-infringing websites will be taken out of the search results altogether; that would only happen if Google receives a copyright removal notice from the copyright owner. Google has also confirmed that it will retain the “counter-notice” tool that it currently offers so that website operators who think their content has been wrongly removed from search results can apply to get it put back.