My Achey Breaky Link Data

MSN pulls a Google and breaks the link command

Live Search's WebLog : We are flattered, but...

For those of you who use some of the advanced query syntax in our search engine such as link:, linkdomain: and inurl:, you may have noticed that this functionality has been recently turned off. We have been seeing broad use of these features by legitimate users but unfortunately also what appears to be mass automated usage for data mining. So for now, we have made the tough call to block all queries with these operators.

It's pretty clear all the engines don't want you looking at link data. On the public side Google gives you some completely random bit of nonsense. If you use webmaster central they give you all the links, but put a nice disclaimer that the data is next to useless since what they show you might or might not be used. Yahoo forces you through the API or site explorer where the data is ... well ... funny. Want better data you've got to hobble some non standard format query. Lastly not that the linkage data from MSN was manna from heaven but they decided "heck everyone else is throwing chaff in with the wheat we better too". Somebody want to wake up ASK and remind them they have a search engine and that they are missing the party ...