Webwork - 3:50 pm on Dec 19, 2006 (gmt 0)

It's an interesting proposition: Whether any enterprise that makes its coin based upon search would adopt an enterprise that makes no coin but, at least in theory, competes in the search space.

Would a search enterprise be wiser to adopt and support the theoretically competing model or would they be wiser to shun it?

Does the idea of "keeping ones enemies even closer" make sense in the search world? Why let the DMOZ drift into someone else's gravity?

Might a supporting search enterprise 'work with' DMOZ in a mutually beneficial manner? How?

I have a rough instinct that the wiser enterprise would pull DMOZ into its orbit, even at risk of some measure of competition. Why?

1. There might be some data that could be shared that wouldn't be part of the RDF files that could be of value.

2. There might be a partnership in emerging technology that could be more fully vetted by a volunteer staff of 1000s of volunteer editors.

3. There might be some patents that could arise from the relationship, where revenues might be shared.

4. In a search world that is laboring to define 'signals or signs of quality' it boggles my mind that some search player hasn't sought to capitalize on a dialogue with a volunteer staff that has been charged with just that task for years.

5. Want to (better) filter spam from your SERPs? I would imagine DMOZ has some data that might help.

These are just thoughts off the top of my head but my basic instinct is that there's value to be yielded in a well managed and supportive relationship with a volunteer project of this size and history.

If Barry Diller is still on his game he and Ask.com might be the angel 'investor' for finding value and mutual benefit in this project.

[edited by: Webwork at 3:57 pm (utc) on Dec. 19, 2006]