Google drops "useful links" in SERPs from info command operator

[engine]

Google has confirmed to Search Engine Land that it's dropped the additional useful links in SERPs from the info command operator.
The useful links provided additional information such as
Show Google cache
Find web pages similar to...
Find web pages that link to...
Find pages from the site...
Find web pages that contain the term...

[searchengineland.com...]

[keyplyr]

I know these resources were useful for many reasons, but personally, I'm glad they're gone.

[jsamuels77]

Why are you glad they're gone?

[keyplyr]

Hello jsamuels77 and welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com]

If your question is serious, I'll take the time to answer.

• Show Google cache...
Caching digital property without permission by the owner is copyright infringement.

• Find web pages similar to...
Why send user to competition when they searched for terms you ranked high with?

• Find web pages that link to...
Why send user to competition when they searched for terms you ranked high with?

• Find pages from the site...
Rarely ever displayed. Replaced by Site Links for some sites, only displayed when query included site name.

• Find web pages that contain the term...
Why send user to competition when they searched for terms you ranked high with?

These are my personal opinions and I'm not attempting to convince anyone of my reasoning. The links are now gone, so good riddance to them.

[jsamuels77]

Yep it was serious, and thanks for the detailed reply.

[Wilburforce]

Why send user to competition when they searched for terms you ranked high with?

They haven't stopped doing that, they have just removed a tool that allows users to choose to do it.

If you search for my (registered trade mark) business name, you still get a box with "People also search for..." ...all my local competitors.

Using my brand name to advertise somebody else's similar or identical services is trade mark infringement, but that hasn't ever bothered Google. It isn't personal, or picking on businesses that can't afford to fight it (for example, try searching for Apple, which has the same effect in the UK), but sooner or later someone who can afford to do it will probably sue them.