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Definitions[]

A metatag/metatags is/are

a part of a Web site that is not seen by the public, but is read by search engine web browsers and later used by the browsers to classify the Web site. Metatags are used to increase the probability that a Web site will be seen by a customer who has typed a particular search query into his or her search engine.[1]
contained in a website's coding and are generally not visible to users unless they use a function to view the web page code.[2]
a list of words hidden in a web site acting as an index or reference source identifying the content of the web site for search engines.[3]
essentially programming code instructions given to on-line search engines.[4]

Overview[]

Meta tags are 'normally invisible to the Internet user,' but they 'are detected by search engines and increase the likelihood that a user searching for a particular topic will be directed to that Web designer's page.'[5] Because meta tags direct internet traffic and are invisible to the internet user (absent the user taking additional steps), meta tags are similar to keyword advertising.[6]

Jim S. Adler, P.C. v. McNeil Consultants, L.L.C., 10 F.4th 422, 427 (5th Cir. 2021).

References[]

  1. Australian Gold, Inc. v. Hatfield, 436 F.3d 1228, 1233 n.3 77 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1968 (10th Cir. 2006)(full-text).
  2. Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Ass'n v. Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 2018 WL 1918618, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. 2018).
  3. PACCAR, Inc. v. TeleScan Techs., LLC, 319 F.3d 243, 248 n.2 (6th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
  4. Southwest Recreational Indus., Inc. v. FieldTurf, Inc., 2002 WL 32783971, at *7 & n.27 (5th Cir. Aug. 13, 2002).
  5. Id. at *7 n.27 (quoting Nat'l A-1 Adver., Inc. v. Network Sols., Inc., 121 F. Supp. 2d 156, 164 (D.N.H. 2000)).
  6. See Playboy Enters., Inc. v. Netscape Commc'ns Corp., 354 F.3d 1020, 1034 (9th Cir. 2004) (Berzon, J., concurring).
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