Forbidden

Someone who can't access Google search engine

[Iguana]

I've just been asked whether I knew what was happening with someone who gets the FORBIDDEN message on the results of Google searches

e.g. he has sent the example of typing Golf in google groups and he is told that his client does not have permission to get URL and to contact [e-mail] if this is in error.

I guess that he is on an IP that Google has banned for transgressions - but he is using a dial-up account from a UK ISP and so gets a different IP each connection. He has contacted the email as per Google instructions but hasn't yet received a reply.

[jcoronella]

I once got banned a few years ago from doing searches on Google. It was an honest mistake, as I hadn't read the Terms of Service ;)

I don't remember if I was returned an error code (forbidden, etc), but it pretty much spelled out that I was locked out for violation of the TOS (I had been doing automated queries). If your "friend" has "Friendly HTTP error Messages" turned on in IE, you... er... HE won't see the message explaining why.