Black Friday advertisement flyers from Wal-Mart have hit the web early after a leak and Wal-Mart is not only going after the sites that have posted the Black Friday specials, but also the search engines which are indexing or linking to them. Wal-mart’s legal team is targeting sites that have posted the content, claiming a copyright on the content, but now the company is going a step further.
Wal-Mart has issued a takedown notice to SearchAllDeals.com, a search engine and publisher of coupons and other discounts, has received a DMCA takedown notice to SearchAllDeals, which does not even host the content Wal-Mart is claiming breaks copyright law.
According to TechDirt, the takedown notice is bogus as prices cannot be copyrighted, and is a simple scare tactic. This news of course led to SearchAllDeals.com actually posting the notice for our web viewing pleasure.
One would think in a retail market which is incredibly underperforming, the buzz from the Wal-Mart Black Friday ads would lead to more sales at Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving. By legally going after the sites that are spreading the buzz about the Wal-Mart specials on big screen TV’s and other deals, Wal-Mart is showing that they do not only understand Internet marketing, but also don’t get viral buzz and social media. Smooth move Wal-Mart.
Comments
17 responses so far ↓
Sushubh on Nov 16, 2008 at 10:57 am
DMCA creators are crying at this very moment.
a2burns on Nov 16, 2008 at 3:36 pm
walmart grow up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the way you treat your employees i never shop at your store anyway !!!!!!!!!!
the union will be brought in now that the bush years are over !!!!!!!!! germany only let you in because the unions are strong in that coutry and the germans would have never let you in without a union store !!!!!!!!!
Nicole on Nov 16, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Wow - I think Wal Mart made a bad move…advertising that will excite shoppers this holiday season should be their top priority. Even if it’s “leaked” advertising.
Darren Moloney on Nov 16, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Maybe Walmart does get viral and social media. This is going to probably run long and far on the web, even if it is negative PR, its still gonna get people talking about Walmart…
Stevo on Nov 16, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Actually, you will never see unions at Walmart. Walmart has said and backed up that they will close a store if it unionizes. And it has. Look at the auto industry. See what happens when your workers unionize. They drive the company straight into the ground.
LESLIE on Nov 16, 2008 at 5:34 pm
then move over Walmart perhaps its time for something better- and more humane
jennifer on Nov 16, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Who cares if it is leaked? What is the problem? What a scrooge!!!
CalvinP on Nov 16, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Wal-mart has some serious issues, they are always jumping at their shadow, that comes from guilt on their part, they treat their hourly employees like crap, they have lousy customer service, they as a cooperation have their own under hand and deceptive behavior going on and they think they can use their line of legal team to scare everyone, as for the union if they make an effort to unionized Wal-mart, there is nothing Wal-mart can do unless they close all their stores, they can close stores in areas where there is no competition, Wal-mart is afraid of the UNION because they know the union will push for them to take better care of their minimum wage employees, along with better benefits.
Stevo on Nov 16, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I worked at Walmart (neighborhood market) for 3 years after I got out of the Marine Corps. I used the GI bill and working 3 nights a week to put myself through college. I actually got good raises, and I was happy there.
The problem with America is we have become complacent. We think we can graduate high school and get a job at an autombile factory or Walmart and we should be set for life. No, that is the reason for getting an education so you don’t make a career out of Walmart. I think Walmart is great for young people looking for a temporary job or part time work, but if you are looking to make a career out of it, then that says a lot about your drive in life. The same reason that the automobile industry is going down will be the same for Walmart should they start providing comparable benefits as other great jobs. This is why prices are so much higher in California stores (where there is unionized labor). We have become a lazy country that doesn’t want to work.
CalvinP on Nov 16, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I’ve been a union member for more than thirty five years, I served in the military and after I got out and went back to school and the civilian sector, some I agree are lazy and want to make easy money but what about those of us who’ve serve this country, have a college education, have a career, never late for work, try to be an asset to their company and all you hear is I want more from the hard working individual while they get less in return never mind recognition, thats why I rely on union backing who speak and fight for those who can’t speak or fight for equal pay and benefits on their own, the only working environment that I trusted working in without the support of the union was the military, Wal-mart can do better where their employee are concern, if they treat their employees with dignity the way Sam Walt did when they started out it would be a great place to shop and a great working environment for their employees. DON’T KNOCK THE LITTLE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE US WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE, not everyone is college material, that does not make them less intelligent or lazy.
Colleen on Nov 18, 2008 at 8:50 am
Perhaps this is all a publicity stunt and Wal-Mart is way smarter than any of us could even assume. Not only are they getting links from black friday coupon sites, but now they’re getting links from the NY-Times. Good Job Wal-Mart.
With that being said, I hope to god people stand up and start unionizing now that the Bush regime is lame duck.
CalvinP on Nov 18, 2008 at 9:07 am
I agree with you 110% Colleen 110%.
ABnCParties on Nov 19, 2008 at 6:36 am
We have a daughter working at Wal-Mart. She is not complaining, especially in these economic times.
eddie on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:00 pm
walmart doesnt want there ads posted yet, that sucks, but nothing we can do about it, but ill bet your butt will be at walmart wanting one of their nice tvs at a bargain price wont you (i will be), im currently in the military, im from the south, and we dont have the union down here, thats why our land and taxes are so cheap. in the past unions were a great help to our society and the workforce, however, it has gotten way out of control and now its mostly comprised of a bunch of lazy people who dont want to work, i know, ive worked with them as a soldier, and let me tell you, it doesnt take 40 people ( yes 40, literally) to operate one forklift at a seaport, 39 of those people were making probably about 30 bucks an hour to do nothing, what do you think is the ripple effect of this waste of money on unnecessary labor??? wlamart will never be unionized and thats exactly the way it should stay, or do you want to pay 29.99 for a dvd the day it comes out at sam goody ???
Colleen on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:19 pm
My dad’s a longshoreman. His father was one. In fact a large majority of my family were or currently are. They’re all VERY HARDWORKING and supported an large families both during and after the depression. So please let’s try to remove ourselves from union discussion and take it elsewhere. This is a comment board about links, not about politics.
Thanks!
ABnCParties on Nov 20, 2008 at 7:13 am
I agree that union versus non-union is not a topic of this discussion. But Wal-Mart is sure getting its “buzz” from their stance. Free publicity…maybe their marketing department is smart to get us all involved in talking about them! And yes, I have waited in a 5:00 A.M. line for that low priced portable DVD player, I must admit.
Colleen on Nov 20, 2008 at 9:35 am
HAHA…what was that coupon site again? Maybe I should start printing those coupons out myself. :P
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