LinkGuard, a UK company, is building what it claims to be the first
complete map of the internet, to be regularly updated, using its
patented software. It will be launching a new application that lets
web sites identify what other sites are linking to them. This could
prove useful for those concerned with deep linking.
New software from the Maidenhead-based company, expected to
become available in June, can be used to identify who is linking to
your site. This would be valuable for any site concerned about
unauthorised deep linking.
A German court recently invoked copyright and database
regulations to prevent a recruitment web site from linking to rival
StepStone’s on-line job advertisements, the practice known as deep
linking, where the link goes beyond the target site’s home
page.
Such linking can upset the target site. It means that the
internet user bypasses the home page of the target site. The home
page can act as a site’s shop-front, usually with its most
prominent branding. Often, a site’s advertising revenue is
calculated according to traffic hitting the home page.
LinkGuard estimates that there are over 2 billion pages and 100
billion hyperlinks on the internet and it says that until now,
nobody has attempted to map them. LinkGuard claims that less than
20% of all internet pages are accurately indexed, with new pages
taking up to six months to be recognised by search engines. It also
hopes to offer a means of identifying broken hyperlinks, saying
that these affect over 25% of all web pages.
