The Guardian has details of a very clever misuse of the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act ).  First, create a back-dated post using the same material that you want removed.  Then file a DMCA with Google accusing, in this case, Mumsnet.  And hey presto – a takedown notice is served on your target.  Mumsnet couldn’t be bothered to fight the claim and so the victim – one of their (loyal?) users – was just hung out to dry.

Observations:

1. A shame Mumsnet couldn’t be bothered to defend the post.
2.  Google has the best spiders in the business; did they check their cache for the backdated post?  That should be automatic.
3.  The DCMA is a US law yet Google saw no problem with applying it to Mumsnet and a UK builder.  Something to remember when Google says they can’t apply local laws.