safe search results stating the problem was due to an "oversight."
Many are furious about the error, which occurred on the "Green Light" feature on Magellan, one of Excite's subsidiaries.
"Green Light" only displays search results that have been screened for adult-oriented content. For example, a search for sex would display sites about entertainment, personal growth, and Jewish culture.
But the sex-oriented keywords also triggered porn ads and banners to be displayed along the innocent search results.
One Internet watchdog group, Cyber Angels, reported Excite to the Federal Trade Commission and some wonder if Excite's mistake wasn't intentional. Playboy and Estee Lauder are currently seeking legal action for keyword-related trademark infringement against Excite. The companies charge that Excite illegally sells the advertising that appears when users type their brand names as a search term.
