Anyone heard of barefruit?

[nim-b]

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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.

See your point, but I think legally it could still be classed as passing off. That Tesco example was an affiliate who had just joined the Tesco programme- I doubt it was explicitly against T&Cs though. Although I'm now considering adding something to our terms now, I don't feel I should have to when an action is against the law.

BTW, checked on Affiliate Window and found an affiliate called The Barefruit Solution in our programme. If this is them they are joining under their own company name, however they are not contacting merchant's to ask express permission for their actions which I think is a bit wrong.

[tbp]

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 triggered a spark in my brain, and I remembered that I had seen the name before. Sure enough, on one of the merchants I`ve done work for they were signed up as an affiliate.

In this case they had signed up as Barefruit, with their company name and address. No mention of how traffic is generated.

[confuscius]

A Merchant needs to take a stance against this particular practice by terminating their relationship with barefruit and reclaiming all previously paid commissions OR explain to all other affiliates that such practices are acceptable. Time to get off the fence for someone.

[Donk]

A Merchant needs to take a stance against this particular practice by terminating their relationship with barefruit and reclaiming all previously paid commissions OR explain to all other affiliates that such practices are acceptable. Time to get off the fence for someone.

As well as merchants it is the Networks and the IAB who should take a stance against this.

But of course it's not in the best interest on the networks if they get a slice of this (possibly) illicit action.

To be honest it's probably not in the best interests of the merchants to drop barefruit. They have got you by the *******.

The Barefruit website showed examples using the domain ipods-r-us.com. For both the http errors (404) and the dns errors (ipods-r-us.con) the "Barefruit solution" displayed sponsored links to competitors sites but no link back to ipods-r-us homepage which was the site that the user wanted. Perhaps if ipods-r-us had an affiliate scheme things would have been different.

If a merchant opts into the Barefruit scheme (or is it scam?) at least they may have a small chance of getting some of their traffic back.

It took a while for the industry to get to grips with zango(180 solutions) and other adware. How long will it take the industry to sort this out.

Naomi

I guess zango didn't

ask express permission for their actions

. If they are working on (or even beyond) the boundary of what is acceptable affiliate practice they are unlikely to advertise it when applying to a merchant. If they believed there scheme was beyond reproach they would (or should) have outlined it in their application.

Bob

[John Jupp]

But of course it's not in the best interest on the networks if they get a slice of this (possibly) illicit action.

Once networks are aware (and they do have access to legal advice aplenty) then if the activity is illegal they would take a stance to protect their revenue. You only have to look at why serious affiliates don't work with ClickXChange to see what happens when a network takes no action against dubious revenue generation by an affiliate or merchant.

[scifind]

Hi drivetowin,

Thanks for highlighting this issue.

Affiliate Window do not condone forcing clicks, we will therefore be thoroughly investigating this issue.

Kind Regards,
Jemma Allanson

Hi Jemma
Has there been any comment - or are we due a statment from affiliate window about this?

[Paul Wright]

For the sake of clarity in what is a controversial topic I can confirm that our clients do not/no longer work with barefruit as an affiliate on their programmes.

Regards
Paul

[scifind]

For the sake of clarity in what is a controversial topic I can confirm that our clients do not/no longer work with barefruit as an affiliate on their programmes.

Regards
Paul

Any other merchants / networks / agencies care to comment?

[hpops]

Totalsearchsolutions will be taking the same stance/policy as Paul suggest ie - not working with them - I am a little concerned that they may have registered under a variety of names however, but we are in the process of advising our clients to remove them if they are currently part of their program.

[arcticsunrise]

To the best of our knowledge, none of our existing clients work with Barefruit and we will be advising all new clients to take the same position and not work with Barefruit.