In many search engines, Google is my favorite, you can enter “link:sitename” (without quotes) in the search field. "Sitename" would be changed for the URL you are looking for. The results are sites with links to yours. I do this twice anually on my banks sites so that I know what is out there.
If you find a link to you that is objectionable, you could ask that it be removed. I've heard of suits pending, but never the outcome, when one site sues another because there are links to it.
This is a double edged sword because you do have reputation concerns, but your ranking on many search engines is also calculated by the links other sites have to you. Eliminate those links and you may be to far down on the list of search results to matter. If search placement is a concern, be cautious.
I wrote a policy on this as it keeps our awareness level up, as to who links to us. You should also do Newsgroups searches if you want to see what is being said about you.
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Andy Zavoina
Opinions stated are not necessarily that of my employer.