The legal consequences of using AI — and the safest way to do it
AI creates growing risks around copyright, privacy, misinformation, and compliance. Here’s how organizations can reduce legal exposure.
Topic: United States Securities and Exchange Commission
What 2 million LLM sessions reveal about AI discovery
From finance to SaaS, different LLMs win different jobs, which is why a single-platform AI strategy won’t work in 2026.
Adobe to acquire Semrush
Adobe will acquire Semrush for $1.9 billion, the companies announced today, with closing expected in the first half of 2026.
What is the Knowledge Graph? How it affects SEO and visibility
Discover how Google's Knowledge Graph works, why it matters for SEO, and how to optimize your content and entities for enhanced search visibility and authority.
Semrush acquires Search Engine Land
Leading SaaS platform Semrush acquired Search Engine Land, SMX and all of our sibling publications.
Google Ads updated political content policies
Google is ending some election ads exemptions, adding new election ads serving options and changing verification requirements.
Google marks 14 years as a public company
Today the search giant ranks as the world's third most valuable company.
SearchCap: Google right to be forgotten, Google Word Coach game & German ruling
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: German court: Google has no ‘duty to inspect’ websites for illegal content before displayingFeb 27, 2018 by Greg Sterling The court held that Google can’t be held liable before being notified […]
Yext files for long-awaited $100 million IPO
Last year the company announced a revenue "run rate" of $100 million.
Renegotiating Search Deal, Yahoo And Microsoft Extend Deadline
Negotiations likely to yield new terms for Search Alliance.
Patrick Pichette, Google’s CFO, To Retire
Google's long term CFO has told the company he wants to retire over the next six months but will help the company find a replacement.
Google To SEC: Reporting On Mobile CPCs And Clicks Would Not Be Meaningful, Too Confusing
The average cost-per-click advertisers pay for Google ads has been declining year-over-year since the fourth quarter of 2011. The rise of mobile has long been seen as the driving force behind the declining average cost-per-click (CPC) — a glut of new ad inventory coupled with the fact that many advertisers often discount the value of […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 25, 2014
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: McDonald’s & Cadillac’s Sochi Olympics TV Ads Spark Nearly 500K Online Searches Television advertising analytics firm iSpot.tv evaluated a number of key metrics for this year’s Olympic advertisers and found ads […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, December 10, 2013
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: It’s True! Bing Ads Allows Use Of Exclamation Mark In Ad Titles After reading the news yesterday that Bing Ads has made a change to its Editorial Guidelines prohibiting third-party sellers […]
Yahoo Tells SEC: 31% Of Our Revenue Comes From Microsoft
Yahoo has revealed in a US Securities & Exchange Commission filing that nearly one-third of its revenue last quarter — 31% — came from its search deal with Microsoft, according to a Bloomberg report. That’s far higher than the “more than 10%” figure Yahoo previously acknowledged, making it seem even more difficult for the company […]
Google Q3 Earnings Leak: $14.1 Billion, Disappoint Surprised Investors
Google’s Q3 “consolidated earnings” leaked early and are below analysts’ expectations. Search clicks were up 33 percent vs. a year go but CPCs were down 15 percent, probably a result of the impact of lower mobile CPCs. Traffic acquisition costs were also up, as were other expenses. Investors were surprised by the early release and […]
Former Yahoo Executive Pleads Guilty To Securities Fraud Charge Related To Microsoft Deal
The Search Alliance between Yahoo and Microsoft had some unintended beneficiaries (now casualties). Yahoo’s former senior director of business management, Robert Kwok, has pled guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, after being accused that he told a mutual fund manager in July 2009 that the deal between Yahoo and Microsoft was imminent. Among its […]
Update: The Shoe Drops: Google Receives Formal Notification Of Review By FTC
As expected, the Federal Trade Commission has begun its formal investigation of Google’s business practices. In a blog post today, Google fellow Amit Singhal wrote that the company yesterday received formal notification from the agency that it would be conducting an inquiry. Though Singhal writes that “it’s still unclear exactly what the FTC’s concerns are,” […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 13, 2011
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Facebook IPO Coming In 2012, Could Be Worth $100 Billion Everyone knows that Facebook is going public. When was the only question. Now it appears that it will be early next […]
Facebook IPO Coming In 2012, Could Be Worth $100 Billion
Everyone knows that Facebook is going public. When was the only question. Now it appears that it will be early next year. Facebook apparently is being compelled go public by an obscure SEC rule that requires companies with 500 or more shareholders to start disclosing financial information even if they haven’t gone public. Thus Facebook […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, May 13, 2011
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Cracking Down On Toolbars Showing Too Many Ads Google has been notifying their AdSense for Search partners of a recent AdSense guidelines change that impact the use of the program […]
Report: Google May Pay $500 Million To Settle Complaint Over Illegal Drug Ads
Earlier this week, Google filed a mysterious report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying it was setting aside $500 million related to a “potential resolution” of an advertising-related probe being conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice. Now, the mystery may be solved. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the investigation relates to […]
“Knowledge” Replaces “Search” For Google
Google’s no longer in the “search” business — it’s now in the “knowledge” business. OK, not exactly. TechCrunch points to a April 11, 2011 SEC filing that discloses a job-title change for Alan Eustace, Google’s Senior Vice President, Engineering & Research. He has become Google’s Senior Vice President, Knowledge. It was widely believed that Eustace was […]
Google’s Top Paid Bonuses For Executives Of 2011
Business Insider reports on a recent Google SEC filing showing the top bonuses paid to Google executives in early 2011. The top bonuses do not list Google’s co-founders or current CEO, but here is what they do list. Nikesh Arora, chief business officer: $20 million in stock and $2.7 million cash. Patrick Pichette, CFO: $15 […]
Google’s $100 Million Gift To Outgoing CEO: Unusual
On Friday Bloomberg reported that outgoing CEO Eric Schmidt (now “executive chairman”) was receiving a “$100 million equity award” from Google. According to executive compensation experts quoted by the Wall Street Journal it’s “unusual” for a sitting CEO to receive such a big award. However is a larger version of equity awards given to other […]
Facebook Funding Subject Of SEC Review: Report
Perhaps not surprisingly, the SEC is reportedly looking into the recent Goldman Sachs Facebook investment. The Wall Street Journal, citing “people familiar with the situation,” reports that the SEC is in the early stages of an inquiry over rules concerning the dividing line between public and private companies. Goldman Sachs created a “special purpose vehicle” […]
Facebook’s Goldman Investment An IPO Delaying Tactic?
There’s a fascinating discussion developing around the question of what the Goldman Sachs $450 or $500 million investment means for a future Facebook IPO. Does it mean it’s around the corner? Alternatively does it do the opposite and delay an IPO a year or more? At the center of the debate is an obscure SEC […]
With So Much Money Is A Facebook Search Engine Inevitable?
The news broke yesterday that Facebook was getting a whopping $500 million from Goldman Sachs and existing investor Digital Sky Technologies at a valuation of $50 billion. None of this has been confirmed by the company but it’s being very widely reported. Apparently the Goldman investment will enable the company’s most wealthy clients to “get […]
Google Execs Get Millions In Equity Awards For 2011; Brin, Page, Schmidt Keep $1 Salary
Four of Google’s highest-ranking executives will soon pick up equity awards valued at more than $50 million total, as well as 30% pay raises for 2011. Co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, along with CEO Eric Schmidt, will continue to collect $1 salaries, as they’ve been doing for many years. According to a new SEC […]
Bing, Now With Extra Facebook: See What Your Friends Like & People Search Results
At long last, Facebook’s social data is coming to search in a big way. Bing is now making use of it to show new “Liked By Your Friends” matches and Facebook-powered people search results. The move offers a huge amount of promise, and perhaps gives Bing a edge that Google can’t quickly replicate. But at […]
Yahoo Can Now Buy Back $3 Billion Of Stock
BusinessInsider reports Yahoo’s latest SEC filing announces they can now buy back $3 billion in stock over the next three years. The Yahoo Board approved the repurchase program allowing the $3 billion in buy backs. The transactions can occur either on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Some are questioning if Yahoo should […]
Yahoo’s Bartz Takes In $47 Million, Yang Gets One Dollar
paidContent reports on Yahoo’s executives salaries for 2009. Yahoo’s CEO, Carol Bartz earned $47 million in 2009, with a salary of $969,872 and $13 million in stock, almost $30 million in options, and some other earnings. Yahoo clarified that $42 million was not actually realized in the year and the amount Bartz will actually realize […]
Google Execs Still At $1/Year, But Company Cuts Other Perks
Google’s trio of top leaders — co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, plus CEO Eric Schmidt — continued to receive $1 salaries in 2009, but it was a series of other cutbacks that helped the company earn $6.5 billion in profit last year. The AP reports that some of those cutbacks directly impacted Schmidt’s overall […]
Yahoo Founders To Sell Up To 5 Million Shares
paidContent.org reports Yahoo’s founders will be selling up to 5 million shares of Yahoo stock. The SEC filing shows that Jerry Yang, the former CEO, will be selling 3 million shares and David Filo will sell up to 2 million shares. Overall, in the scheme of how many shares both own, 5 million shares of […]
Yahoo Sells “Non-Core” Asset HotJobs For $225 Million
The HotJobs for sale rumor has been around for some time. Yesterday a deal with Monster was finally announced. It is being widely hailed as a smart move by Yahoo to gain cash and divest itself of another “non-core asset.” Except for payment and other terms the deal is conceptually analogous to what Yahoo is […]
Google Founders To Sell 10 Million Shares Over Five Years
According to an SEC filing late this afternoon, Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin “each intend to sell approximately 5 million shares” — over a period of five years. This is not a reaction to any particular development in the market or perception of the outlook for Google; rather this is part of a […]
AOL To Cut Staff By One-Third
In a Security and Exchange document filed on Tuesday night, AOL plans on cutting about one-third of their staff, about 2,300 people. The filing said, “the Restructuring will include the reduction of approximately a third of the Company’s current employee base, which will be conducted on a voluntary and involuntary basis.” AOL became an independent […]
Microsoft-Yahoo Search Deal On Track For Completion
According to AllThingsD the MicroHoo search deal is nearing completion and “definitive agreement” status. Speculation that the deal was in trouble started happening when the two companies failed to meet their self-imposed October 27 deadline to finalize the complex agreement. However it appears the circumstances were just as reported in the parties’ 8-K filing with […]
So What Are We To Make Of The “Ying” Search Delay?
I got two calls yesterday from people asking what I made of the Yahoo-Microsoft failure to meet their self-imposed search-deal deadline (October 27). I said it was probably just a case of needing more time to work through some of the details rather than a warning sign that the entire deal was in jeopardy. There’s […]
Top Microsoft Execs Get A Pay Cut
Appropriately top Microsoft executives, coming off the “worst year ever” for the company, are sharing some of the pain. As PaidContent reports, the top executives at the company took a compensation hit based on the sales and revenue declines. Here are some of the numbers: CEO Steve Ballmer $1.265 million vs. $1.34 million a year […]