diff --git a/archivebox/index/html.py b/archivebox/index/html.py
index b6e8f985..4ddedf69 100644
--- a/archivebox/index/html.py
+++ b/archivebox/index/html.py
@@ -50,18 +50,6 @@ def parse_html_main_index(out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR) -> Iterator[str]:
                     yield line.split('"')[1]
     return ()
 
-@enforce_types
-def write_html_main_index(links: List[Link], out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR, finished: bool=False) -> None:
-    """write the html link index to a given path"""
-
-    copy_and_overwrite(str(Path(TEMPLATES_DIR) / FAVICON_FILENAME), str(out_dir / FAVICON_FILENAME))
-    copy_and_overwrite(str(Path(TEMPLATES_DIR) / ROBOTS_TXT_FILENAME), str(out_dir / ROBOTS_TXT_FILENAME))
-    copy_and_overwrite(str(Path(TEMPLATES_DIR) / STATIC_DIR_NAME), str(out_dir / STATIC_DIR_NAME))
-
-    rendered_html = main_index_template(links, finished=finished)
-    atomic_write(str(out_dir / HTML_INDEX_FILENAME), rendered_html)
-
-
 @enforce_types
 def main_index_template(links: List[Link], template: str=MAIN_INDEX_TEMPLATE) -> str:
     """render the template for the entire main index"""