A WebmasterWorld thread has one webmaster explaining he is now receiving emails from other webmasters to change how he links to them.
The issue is, Google is sending out messages about unnatural links and in response to that, webmasters are freaking out and emailing everyone and anything that links to them to change the link.
Heck, I've even received some asking me to either change the link or remove the link completely.
We even asked if someone can sue for linking to someone else? The issue now is that Google is sending a link warning saying your site is being penalized, so there is more evidence showing a site linking to you is potentially causing financial damage to the site. So a lawsuit is not out of question.
Some are taking other approaches and charging a fee to remove links. I kid you not.
In the case at WebmasterWorld, this webmaster received an email from another webmaster saying:
We have been penalized for unnatural links, can you please change the anchor text of your links from "blaH to "bla blah".
I don't see how changing the anchor text will help, it is still an unnatural link. :)
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Image credit to BigStockPhoto for prisoner
