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BlogSpot to limit Archives?

Posted by rpavellas • 2/07/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blogspot archives, wordpress

I heard from a friend who heard from someone else that Google was going to limit one's archives to six months. The (third) person recommended private hosting or hosting on WordPress and using WordPress's method of blogging or blog creation. If this is true, it makes me very tired in anticipation of having to learn yet another way of doing my weekly blog, now almost two years old.

Any confirmation of this rumor and any other advice if it is true. I want to keep all my stuff in the blogosphere.

Thanks in advance,

Ron Pavellas

User Comments

2/07/09

dosox

Hmmm I don't know.
I have to think it over
Google will lose..

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2/07/09

PinoyXfat

Google would be too arrogant if it did that.

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2/07/09

dune

I'm sure, they won't do it. Why? because google LOVE content so much, specially user-generated content. Blogspot, Google knols, Google Docs and Google GDrive(could replace your hard disk), this drive will allow users to save their data online and users will be able to access their data from any computer in the world. The rumor is just a rumor .

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2/07/09

rpavellas

Thanks, Fellows--I'll pass your comments along to my friend who may pass them along to her source to see what he might have to say.
Ron

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2/07/09

ThriftShopRomantic

It seems this would shoot themselves in the foot-- the archived material would be already Google indexed content that's in their search.

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2/07/09

legbamel

That's a horrifying thought, but it doesn't make much sense for Google to actually do it, as observed by the rest of the folks here. Thank heavens I back up my blog anyway. I'd be furious to lose almost a year and a half's worth of posts.

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1. 2/07/09
  
  harveyavatar
  
  how do you back up your blog?
2/07/09

Anok

I think I might double check my backup as well. *shudder*

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2/07/09

rayearth2601

hopefully it might not happen

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2/07/09

jan4insight

That would suck. However, I can't see Google actually doing that. Are they running out of storage space??? Methinks it's just that - a rumor.

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2/07/09

SAHMinIL

This is the first that have heard of anything like this and it just doesn't seem likely...especially seeing they just updated their import/export feature and allowing people to cross-publish postings in one click.

Blogger does have it's own blog about new features etc: buzz.blogger.com/

So I really don't think it will happen. With that said, it's always a good idea to have your content back up, especially if it's important to you. I'm sure that many of us find our blogs to be important!

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2/07/09

cooltool

thats not going to happen , Google owned all blogging platforms , so i guess Typad and Wordpress will have some troubles in the future , not Google

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2/07/09

gagaukon

agreed with anok, should double check backup... just in case

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2/07/09

exinco

i'm feel bad too but what we can do google is a big boss

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2/07/09

jan4insight

Now I'm starting to wonder if it's part of a scam?

A few weeks ago I got an email saying that my gmail account was going to be deleted because Google was running of space, and I was supposed to click on a certain link and enter my password etc. etc. It sure smelled PHISHY to me. I reported spam immediately. Oh yes, my gmail account is just fine.

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1. 2/07/09
  
  Anok
  
  Good catch Jan.
2/07/09

PetLvr

Why would google limit the archives of blogs - and then giveaway 7gigs space just to create email accounts?

As judge judy claims .. if it doesn't make sense - it's probably not true.

(but backups never hurt)

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2/07/09

timethief

Has anyone gone to Blogger staff and asked them if such a plan is in the works? I sincerely doubt that it is. To me it sounds like a bizarre rumor so rather than spreading it maybe trying to verify it with staff is the way to go.

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2/10/09

rpavellas

I got a response from the fellow who was the source of this info, and he says it's all right to quote him. Here it is:

Ron,

Thank you for asking this as it caused me to spend some time this morning to make sure I’m not just passing around a rumor. After reading numerous blogs and Bloggers/Blogspots’ own terms of use, the conclusion I have come to is that I cannot verify that Blogger is automatically wiping out all content over 6 months so I think that part is rumor. However, the basic premise that your content can be deleted by Blogger if you host with a blogspot domain is still a real concern and is one reason I do not recommend to our authors to use blogspot. Simply speaking, when you host with Blogspot, your content is on their servers and you are subject to their terms. Here are some links and some info. I’ve put together to shed some light on this. I hope it helps. If you are already blogging on blogspot my guess is your content will be okay as long as it fits their terms of use, but if you are thinking of starting a new blog, I highly recommend looking into hosting your own wordpress blog.

Here’s the first link that most directly addresses this issue:

www.meroguff.com/2008/04/do-you-have-bloggerblogspot-blog-and-do.html

Here’s info. from the blogger terms of use:

Description of Service. Blogger is a web publishing service and optional hosting service (the "Service"). You will be responsible for all activities occurring under your username and for keeping your password secure. You understand and agree that the Service is provided to you on an AS IS and AS AVAILABLE basis. Google disclaims all responsibility and liability for the availability, timeliness, security or reliability of the Service or any other client software. Google also reserves the right to modify, suspend or discontinue the Service with or without notice at any time and without any liability to you. (so whether they are deleting blogs or not, they have the right to do so if they choose to. You won’t have this problem with a blog hosted by you)

General Practices Regarding Use and Storage. You agree that Google has no responsibility or liability for the deletion of, or the failure to store or to transmit, any Content and other communications maintained by the Service. Google retains the right to create limits on use and storage at our sole discretion at any time with or without notice.

Termination; Suspension. Google may, in its sole discretion, at any time and for any reason, terminate the Service, terminate this Agreement, or suspend or terminate your account. In the event of termination, your account will be disabled and you may not be granted access to your account or any files or other content contained in your account although residual copies of information may remain in our system for some time for back-up purposes. Sections 2, 3, 5 - 8, and 10 - 15 of the Agreement, along with applicable provisions of the general Terms of Service (including the section regarding limitation of liability), shall survive expiration or termination.

This is from a blog I found:

Copyrights and Ownership of Content www.searchforblogging.com/wordpress/blogging-wars-wordpress-vs-blogger.html

I started with Blogger and I won’t say that it’s bad. But after a while I started to get frustrated with Blogger, and here’s why: Google Owns Your Content

Google has the authority to shut down your account without warning if they don’t like what you’re blogging about. You don’t have absolute control over your own blog. With Wordpress, you own the domain name and the blog is hosted on your own account. You have full control over your content.

With the self-hosted version of Wordpress (not Wordpress.com), you’re free to write about anything you want, and use the software in any way you want. Yes, Blogger allows you to publish to your own domain, but they still own the database that holds your content! Don’t forget that!

The following link comes from within Bloggers forums:

blogging.nitecruzr.net/2008/02/blogs-are-being-removed-for-just-cause.html

I hope this helps. Personally, I would hate to write on a blog for years on end and have the content be out of my control. While the likelihood of Google wiping out your content is small, it’s possible it could happen by mistake or possible Google may enact a policy of taking content off that is over a certain age. Yes, Google loves content, but Google really loves NEW content so it is not entirely implausible that Google could enact a policy of wiping off old content as it keeps it’s content fresh.

Philip Davis

81 South 1380 West
Lindon, UT 84042
toll free: 866-669-3627
Cell: 801-897-2679

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