Anyone heard of barefruit?

[Barry]

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scifind - What nameservers are you using as I would love to have a look at the results. I use BT and they are not setup to hijack my 404's so I cant see any forced interception and modification of error messasges.

Ta

[sgpratley]

I appreciate Barefruit's open discussion, but I really don't see how this differs from buying typo domains. Just because the typo is outside the part of the url that any other affiliate can get their hands on doesn't make any difference.

This should really be banned on any programme that doesn't accept typo domains or domains containing the brand term. I'm sure we can expect a slew of T&C's updates to make this explicit even if it should be already.

Barefruit, can you confirm that your applications to all network programmes are under your own company name and that you are transparent about how your traffic is being generated? I don't operate with any of the affected ISP's so none of the examples in this thread are working for me.

[Donk]

Barefruit provides a comprehensive solution to error traffic, enhancing both the user experience and revenue for ISPs and other partners

Is it an enhancement to a users experience? Surely that's why both IE and Firefox introduced pop up blockers to stop unwanted ads. Surely the only reason you provide this so called "service" is to enhance your own revenue.

Users need no longer suffer the frustration of ‘Error 404 Page Not Found’,

I'm sure most internet users have managed to find the back button. I'm sure most users will realise if they get a 404 error that they misspelt the url and can correct the error without the help of patented (pending) technology.

In your last reply you did not address the question of how you can bypass RIPA regulations. Even the police and MI5/6 aren't allowed to intercept telecommunications without a court order or due cause.

(1) It shall be an offence for a person intentionally and without lawful authority to intercept, at any place in the United Kingdom, any communication in the course of its transmission by means of—

(a) a public postal service; or

(b) a public telecommunication system.

[Donk]

Again from the Barefruit website:

Google, others sued over parked domain ads
Mon, 2 Jul 2007 07:51:00 UT

Google is among a host of web firms facing a lawsuit from companies complaining about programmes that place online ads on unused, parked domain names.

Vulcan Golf filed the complaint in Illinois arguing the practice, by which individuals register attractive domain names but place only ads on them, is a "shocking and egregious, intentional, bad faith scheme to generate revenue and profit from illegal and deceptive actions".

(linked to E-consultancy.com: Internet Marketing Strategy | Training | Online Marketing Research )

Pots and black kettles come to mind.

[Affi Liate]

Anyone heard of barefruit?

Yep. It's a Gentlemens club in at.tercliffe Sheffield, right Keith?

Affricot

[scifind]

scifind - What nameservers are you using as I would love to have a look at the results. I use BT and they are not setup to hijack my 404's so I cant see any forced interception and modification of error messasges.

Ta

Using tiscali.

Must say, if legal regarding RIPA the mal formed URL redirects to banners / ppc domain parking pages is fair play in my book, as it does display:

Sorry, the page you were looking for cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Error: (DNS), click the back button to try another link.

Redircting typo traffic, fair play IF the merchant and affiliate network are in agreement. IMHO it should be an opt in system. I do not see any value for the merchant and very little for the user. The user would see an error and correct it taking all of 3 seconds.

[ukaffiliates_barefruit]

Just to reiterate, Barefruit does not touch valid domains - the example http://anysubdomainnotalreadyregiste...currys.co .uk is an invalid domain.

It is clear that you don't agree with error resolution. However we have several thousand satisfied advertisers who are very happy with our affiliate traffic so it's best to agree to differ on this one!

Hani

[scifind]

Just to reiterate, Barefruit does not touch valid domains - the example http://anysubdomainnotalreadyregiste...currys.co .uk is an invalid domain.

It is clear that you don't agree with error resolution. However we have several thousand satisfied advertisers who are very happy with our affiliate traffic so it's best to agree to differ on this one!

Hani

Hi
I don't agree with the Currys example at all - as it is in breach of T&C set down by Currys/Affiliatewindow.

is http://www.anydomainnotalreadyregist...tcom123321.com an invalid domain as it is not already registered?

[Barry]

I would disagree - http://subdomainnotregisteredbycurrys.currys.co.uk/ is a registered domain name, its just they dont have that third level configured.

Why on earth don't currys add a wildcard to their DNS to pick up any variation of third level name thats mis typed and redirect it to their website.


I cant see too much wrong with a custom 404 with adverts on and a clear explanation that the website could not be found - but I am slightly worried that the example given when typed redirects straight through a affiliate window link to currys. (Although I cannot check this as I am not on tiscali)

I am glad AW are looking into and I look forward to a reply.

Ta

[Barry]

I have just had a great and unique idea after 6 cans of Export.

Is it OK to develop a toolbar that other drunk people can download that will redirect them when they misstype the domain name they are looking to what I deem to be the correct destination? And if the domain is complete goobledegook can I just show some PPC adds?

Or course I will have to monetize the system using affiliate links, and the advertisers wont mind because we all know how confused drunk people are - they will never realise they have typed the wrong domain by the 'normal' locally served 404 page and will lose interest in finding the brand straight away without my help.

Every redirect would be a customer gained for them would it not? - its a win win situation is it not.

Ta

[Donk]

I have just had a great and unique idea after 6 cans of Export.

As the RIPA laws appear to have been disregarded my idea of intercepting phone calls and serving up voice ads has to be a winner. I've even thought of a good name:
Consumer Related Advertising by Phone.

Going Back on topic. Think of all the time you will save not having to create those boring 404 etc error pages. They will automatically be redirected away from your site without you having to do anything.

However this is dressed up in PRspeak, whether it is server-side or client-side, parasiteware is parasiteware.

From a personal note I would prefer any mistakes I make to remain in the address bar so that I can correct them myself. If for instance I type hmrc.gov.uk/efiling/sa_efiling/soft_dev.htm in the address bar. Yes I do get a page not found error. But it's a simple matter to correct my error by simply typing the www. in front of the domain.name. If my request is rediricted I'd have to type the whole url in again.

[nim-b]

Am I right in thinking that without the knowledge of the brand owner this is a bit dodgy legally?

For example, buying a domain name containing a registered trademark is definately against the law http://www.nominet.org.uk/disputes/caselaw/trademarks/.
As is using purchased domains to redirect through an affiliate network to the merchant without their knowledge Tesco v Elogicom Ltd

I'd also hazard a guess that misspellings of trademarks might also fall under passing off.

So Currys, Dixons etc would HAVE to give express permission for this to happen.

[Donk]

HI Naomi

I don't think it is a matter of the merchants actually giving permission, more of a case that they did not expressly prohibit this in their terms and conditions.

But it's not just Dixons and Currys involved. EVERY misspelt domain and 404 error is intercepted by these people. So firebox.co.m would be directed to one of their landing pages. If you have accepted them as an affiliate they would present the user an affiliate link to where the user wanted to go in the first place.

Perhaps if they are not an affiliate of yours then they may be directed to a competitor (with an affiliate link) who knows?

Also your 404 errors are they intercepted even though you have your own 404 page.

It would be interesting if Scifind, Keith or any other Tiscali user could do a few test to see what happens.

Bob

[sgpratley]

Barefruit, can you confirm that your applications to all network programmes are under your own company name and that you are transparent about how your traffic is being generated?

This has gone unanswered. If Barefruit were explicit enough in what they are doing they might get away with it, at least for as long as it takes for the merchants to change their T&C's anyway.

[Paul Wright]

Barefruit, can you confirm that your applications to all network programmes are under your own company name and that you are transparent about how your traffic is being generated?

I'd also like to know the answer to this.