Curiously, Google has deleted at least six popular MP3 blogs that it claims violated copyright law. The sites, hosted by Google's Blogger and Blogspot services, were given notices only after their sites and archives were deleted. What's most curious about Google's actions is that the deleted blogs hosted what could primarily be referred to as 'legal' MP3s, either from a promotional company, publicity firm, label or directly from an artist.

Google product manager Rick Klau responded to the deletions by stating, "When we receive multiple DMCA complaints about the same blog, and have no indication that the offending content is being used in an authorised manner, we will remove the blog" … "[If] this is the result of miscommunication by staff at the record label, or confusion over which MP3s are 'official' … it is imperative that you file a DMCA counter-claim so we know you have the right to the music in question."

The aforementioned DMCA claim is hardly a safety net, however, as many of Blogger's DMCA notices allegedly omit the name of the offending song, only causing confusion on the side of the blogger as to what they may be denying exactly. What's more, many other MP3 blogs that illegally host full album downloads and the like remain online, hosted by Blogspot or Blogger and seemingly untargeted by the company.

What do you think? Should Google tweak their systems to weed out invalid DMCA claims? Is this just another case of 'the little guy' falling victim to an increasingly oversensitive and overzealous industry?