NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Controversies over Google/Microsoft/Yahoo joint "schema.org" announcement
Controversies over Google/Microsoft/Yahoo joint "schema.org" announcement http://j.mp/kg9VUG (This message on Google Buzz) - - - I'm passing this along on an FYI basis only -- I'm not taking any formal position on this matter right now. A few days ago, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo jointly announced "schema.org" -- a joint effort to "create and support a common vocabulary for structured data markup on web pages." If you're not into Search Engine Optimization (SEO), this seems pretty esoteric, but essentially the three primary search-related firms have joined to offer a new set of "microdata" vocabularies that Web sites can use to provide additional markup cues to search engines -- the goal being to enhance parsing, display, and (perhaps) ranking for those sites that have complex structures. The controversies appear to arise because there are already microdata markup vocabularies within the realm of the W3C community, and some observers are apparently concerned that the G-M-Y effort will dilute or otherwise co-opt the existing open community standards in this area. Frankly, I haven't thought a lot about microdata issues in this context up to now. My own sites are simple enough that I just publish in a straightforward way and search engine rankings have been generally treating me very well, thank you. So SEO in particular has not been a major concern to me for my sites, except in terms of broader related policies, which it appears that schema.org perhaps *may* invoke in a positive, negative, or perhaps mixed fashion. I just don't know yet. So until I've had a chance to research and think about this issue -- which given current priorities for me could be a while -- I won't make any specific recommendations on this matter at this time. Here are some relevant references: Schema.org Web site: http://j.mp/kyzDzJ (Schema.org) Schema.org: Webmaster One-Stop or Linked Data Land Grab? - Darin Stewart http://j.mp/mqWeUZ (Gartner) The False Choice of Schema.org - Manu Sporny (W3C) http://j.mp/l9aXgj (The Beautiful, Tormented Machine) Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo! Agree on a Common Markup Language http://j.mp/kU20Nc (InfoQ) --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Google Buzz: http://j.mp/laurenbuzz Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com