Zanox working with spyware in Germany

[jess1]

Rant!
What is the point in trying to combat spyware if some networks are still facilitating it, ok so its in Germany and doesn’t affect us UK affiliates… I find it rather insulting for any network to claim that they don’t work with the likes of 180solutions in the UK but happily facilitate them in the rest of the world. It’s hypocritical, manipulative, misleading and sneaky and just really hacks me off.

Do Zanox think I only support UK affiliates because I am based in the UK, spyware is spyware no matter in which country, it still messes up peoples computers, damages brand and facilitates fraud and screws over affiliates. This is a link to a German equivalent to a4uforum.co.uk
http://www.100partnerprogramme.de/fo...eren-sich.html
unfortunately, most people here will not understand German so if there are any translators out there… or would be great to get a German/English affiliate from that forum to post here and get their comments.
"zanox answered a thread today on the url above and basically said that they do work with adware companies and it is permitted as long as it does not go against any of these specific details:

Such as not designed to install cookies, redirect people against their wishes, have clear opt in policies and opt out policies etc and all the things you would expect a company to say to try and defend themselves." ANON

[3wdl]

It's not perfect, but google does an OK translation.

http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools

Going to have a good read now..

[mikeyconn]

From looking at it, this is a fresh thread to ressurect a long going topic about adware and spyware in which the orignal post wanted an update on networks that distance themselves against adware and spyware. Someone from zanox replied with what looks like a company stance on the subject, it basically details that zanox believe that "adware" is a legitimate advertising medium and is accepted on the zanox network providing that certain conditions are met, such as:

The software must be installed knowingly with clear opt in and opt out policies
The software must not be designed to drop cookies or redirect users away from their intended target (or so i read)
The software must not interfere or try to defraud advertisers and or affiliates (or at least words to that effect)
Adware must be clearly defined as adware within the admin panel and on show for merchants to see etc.

It claims that affiliate cookies are not overwritten subsequently by 180 solutions cookies if and when an action takes place and that seems to be, in their opinion, the complete solution to the problem.

It is followed up by other posters disecting their words entirely on the points they raised, it does not however answers to any other aspect of adware uses, problems or anything, just kind of sums up that the non cookie overwriting is the complete problem and therefore the solution.

By their own terms though this would render 180solutions foul of their own terms and conditions yet they are still on the network, so anything said by zanox appears in the german users forum to be a lie.

[Zanox]

I have just got off the phone with zanox Germany and they will be posting a thread fairly soon with re:180 solutions.

Andreas will also translate his own post in English that was posted on German forum.

As for zanox UK we have a zero tolerance on adware companies so I can confirm once again that zanox UK does not work with adware companies or affiliates who use them as a means of advertising and driving traffic.

Appreciate your patience everyone. I'll get some answers for you.

Regards,
Yagmur

[jess1]

As for zanox UK we have a zero tolerance on adware companies so I can confirm once again that zanox UK does not work with adware companies or affiliates who use them as a means of advertising and driving traffic.

That was not in question (for the moment), if you read my post properly I differentiated between the UK and Germany.

If your next post in the German thread says exactely the same thing as you have stated in this thread, then this is good news for Germany as a whole

[Zanox]

Hello everybody,
I'd like to provide the translation of the zanox statement in 100partnerprogramme.de forum. I hope its better than the google translation.

At first I would like to add two comments regarding this statement.

1. zanox UK is adware free. This is a general statement about zanox and adware and it deals with 180solutions as single ad provider in particular only because of the big interest and it is related to zanox Germany only.
2. If we get current evidence of any fraudulent activities of 180solutions within zanox Germany, we will stop working with them immediatly.


This is the translated statement.
---------------------------------------------
zanox adware policy in German-speaking areas

We define adware as advertising-supported software. In other words, software that is financially supported or entirely paid for by integrated advertising or advertising material contained in the package. Falling under this definition is all software that plays, shows or downloads advertisements after it was installed or while it’s being executed. This advertising technique is often used to pay for the development of software projects or to earn advertising revenue from the distribution and widespread use of such software. It is principally acceptable and zanox does not categorically reject it.
Should such software violate privacy rights, however, for example via additional functions or questionable installation methods, then the basis for a continued cooperation with zanox ceases to exist. Such violations occur when the software features functions that can record user information (spyware) – often without prior knowledge or approval of the user – as well as functions that can directly interfere with other applications (malware), for example to activate certain websites or links and/or manipulate the browsers’ cookie management system. The spread and use of adware is especially persistent in developed markets such as the US and the UK, and is also steadily increasing in Germany.

zanox protects its affiliates and their work as a broker in several ways. On a technical level, the zanox network is protected by numerous general functions, as listed below:
- It’s compulsory to give notice when implementing adware.
- Adware is treated separately by zanox. In active partnerships, the adware status can only be altered by zanox.
- The adware provider is added to the application requirements and is marked with a symbol for the zanox merchants to see.
- Adware is consistently tracked and treated separately.

zanox has created a special email address for reporting fraudulent adware activities. Affiliates are encouraged to report suspicious behaviour in an email to <adware@zanox.com>. If fraudulent behaviour is identified, zanox will initiate appropriate counter-measures.

zanox is also monitoring the adware provider market as well as the respective internet forums plus blogs in addition to its own network.

Since February 2005, special terms for participating in the zanox network already apply to the well-known adware provider 180solutions. The terms specify, among other things, that 180solutions only receives an affiliate commission if zanox couldn’t establish another affiliate being involved and that the company’s work as a broker transpired within the special terms agreement. 180solutions can furthermore use tracking URLs only after users have clicked on a banner that opens the merchant’s website. Additionally, 180solutions is obligated to disclose newly-registered advertising spaces and partner accounts.

With these measures, zanox intends to integrate adware providers into its network as well as establish them as a reliable affiliate. As long as their work as broker is effectively rendered and neither merchants nor affiliates are harmed through unfair activities, this form of advertising is acceptable.

Simultaneously, zanox will respond to any fraudulent activity against its merchants, affiliates or itself with a network ban and will also withhold revenues earned through such activities.
-------------------------------------------------


Andreas Kabisch
zanox.de AG Germany

[sweetpete]

Zanox - small one compared to the overall discussion but i'm not sure your client 'Thomas Cook' would appreciate being called 'Thomson Cook' (in your sig).

Unless there's been a merger i'm unaware of then you may need to correct it!

Would have pm'd you but your pm box is full....

[HeresJonny]

Hi Zanox

After due consideration, all the other UK networks have dumped 180 solutions and other adware companies as partners. Adware is bad for merchants, bad for affiliates and bad for internet users.

Why is Zanox UK's adware stance different to Zanox Germany's if working with them isn't an issue?

Eventually you will come under pressure to dump them, and rightly so, so why prolong the inevitable?

Jon