Is MSN up to something with DMOZ?

Unusual MSN Web Directory traffic

[mayor]

I'm getting hits from a serp listing in MSN's Web Directory results on a page I've never listed in Looksmart but is listed in DMOZ.

This is a surprise to me because I wasn't aware MSN was backfilling the Web Directory results with DMOZ, either directly or indirectly, like maybe by pulling from the Google directory.

Is something cooking in Redmond, or has MSN or Looksmart been backfilling from DMOZ all along and I just didn't see it?

[jeremy goodrich]

Hm, INK does use DMOZ sometimes the title / description from there, as well - could this be the case and not MSN using DMOZ directly?

[mayor]

No, I don't think so Jeremy. I'm talking about the the MSN Web Directory results, not the MSN Web Pages backfill that is sourced by Inktomi.

[jeremy goodrich]

Ah, in that case - if it's the MSN directory - LookSmart has been known many, many times to simply raid the ODP :)

Quick & easy way to get quality links - you know?

Perhaps that might solve the mystery for us...

[mayor]

That does answer it then. Thanks.