Commission Junction - Spyware/Parasiteware

Tina · 26-05-04

Dear All,

I wanted to make a formal posting on this forum to address the current issues surrounding spyware/parasiteware.

Firstly, this is something Commission Junction takes extremely seriously. These issues were initially addressed in December 2002 when Commission Junction created a Code of Conduct and circulated it around other networks for their support and signature. The Code of Conduct focuses on the belief that fair business practices produce optimum results for online consumers and all parties participating in online pay-for-performance advertising and affiliate marketing programs. We have a team in place to monitor the compliance to the code. We have also put a team together to make sure that we are totally up to speed with the ever-changing tactics used by spyware/parasiteware publishers.

We are currently actively reviewing the Code of Conduct and we, as ever, are very keen to actively discuss these issues with publishers and advertisers. Whilst we do not regularly post on the forums (due to corporate obligations related to being a plc) we are nevertheless extremely keen to share our position and ensure that we fully understand the needs of our publishers. I can further confirm that affiliations between 180 Solutions and all UK advertisers will be rescinded by tomorrow (Thursday 27th May).

Please find below a link to the Code of Conduct.

http://www.cj.com/pub_conduct.jsp

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on the below email address.

Kind regards,

Tina Judic
Client Development Manager
Commission Junction
tjudic@cj.com

Luca Brasi · 26-05-04

That sounds like great news Tina.

"I can further confirm that affiliations between 180 Solutions and all UK advertisers will be rescinded by tomorrow (Thursday 27th May). "

Does this mean that other companies similar to 180 will also fall foul of these guidelines or is this a token spyware company? Not to appear negative straight away - would just be good to get clarification of what you are and are not allowing.

Does this also apply to the US?

Qui Gon Jinn · 26-05-04

Appreciate the posting, but we it would be nice to have a more comprehensive listing.

180 has other trading names like Zango or Metrics Direct. Any news on those?

Since there are a number of other software applications like WhenU, Claria (Gator) are just some of the more common names referred to.

As we know CJ have been approaching merchants to work with WhenU, is this going to cease?

I really want to be optimistic and hope it's a step forward, but I have to be sceptical for the time being with it being so close to CJU and recent NMA article. As well as knowing how another network is going to work with certain adware companies in a different capacity.

No doubt you have had on going discussions in house. But in recent private discussions with you this is a very different stance. As Luca suggests we don't just want a token gesture.

How can UK and US be policed separately?

Can we have a group of UK publishers sitting down with CJ to go through suggestions to be incorporated in an amended code of conduct with strict rules for enforcing.

With regard to the current code of conduct, this has already been breached by certain companies over the past 2 years, yet nothing has materialised.

If you refer to a previous thread, there are points which illustrate this.

However a roundtable would be a step forward, as long as we don't end up in protracted dialogue with little end result.

Supercod · 26-05-04

If this post is saying that 180 and other adware publishers are being kicked off all UK programs this is a good thing, until see what happens I hold fire any other comments, this will just leave TD in support of our adware “friends”.

dbm44 · 26-05-04

Tina,

Firstly thanks for posting what appears to be good news.

I would also like to see you publically confirm that 180 solutions in all their guises have been booted from CJ.

As Supercod says this may only leave Tradedoubler working with the "undesirables" - not a clever place to be right now.

Qui Gon Jinn · 01-06-04

All very quiet on the CJ front?

Whooppee doo on the 180 front, but what about adware that earns CJ serious amounts of over ride like WhenU.

Having spoken to several merchants, several are being fooled that this announcement solves the issue, when those in the know, know it isn't the case. A couple are not impressed with CJ silence on this matter even towards them the merchant.

Tina · 03-06-04

Hi All,

I am very keen to take up Qui Gon Jinn’s suggestion to set up a meeting with publishers to discuss this issue in further detail. I would suggest that we get together in groups but if anyone feels that they want a one to one meeting with the CJ UK management team about this issue we will make ourselves available
I suggest the following dates as possibilities for group meetings in our Putney office, followed by drinks (we’re paying J):

Friday June 11th
Tuesday June 22nd
Thursday July 8th
Wednesday July 21st

I would appreciate it if you could email me at cwhite@valueclick.com or Tina Judic at tjudic@cj.com to clarify if any of these dates would work for you.

Of course we will all be at CJU next week and we will be happy to talk to you about this issue then too.

I would also like to confirm that, further to some comments, 180 Solutions has had all relationships rescinded with UK advertisers – this applies to all names in which 180 Solutions trade under.

We are also reviewing the code of conduct and we expect to be able to issue an updated code within a matter of a few weeks. At that point we will clarify our position regarding all adware.

As a point of clarification BeFree didn’t take over Commission Junction ValueClick Inc did.

ValueClick has a policy of allowing the European operation to develop its products and services for the local needs of its clients. We believe that this autonomy will work to the benefit of our existing clients over the coming months. It will also allow us to formulate a policy based on UK needs rather than just US needs. Our aim is to get the benefit of global and local knowledge in order to better serve our clients. We will be making further announcements about building the local businesses within the next few weeks.

Having said all of the above Rome wasn’t built in a day and as a public company there are certain things we can’t say. Bear with us and please do work with us to build the affiliate network that you want.

All the best

Carl White
European Managing Director
ValueClick

Qui Gon Jinn · 03-06-04

Carl, thanks for the posting, however I would like as many merchants as possible in attendance as well, not just their affiliate managers but their senior directors which was the scope of my initial remit.

tobyt · 04-06-04

Carl, I would also like to thank you for taking the time to respond and your posting.

I agree that Rome was not built in a day, but taking the time to meet, respond and resolve these issues certainly helps to lay a good foundation.

Unfortunately due being out of the country I am not in the position to attend a face to face but QGJ is not only a good friend, he is also a person that has made an enormous contribution to the healthy growth of Affiliate Marketing in the UK in the last couple of years, and his comments and suggestions will echo the sentiments and concerns of many.

Oh and by the way, the fact that Tina and yourself take the time to respond to these issues both in and out of this forum, go an awful long way to reassuring a number of us that CJ in the UK has the all important UK controlling influence.

May this dialogue continue and be fruitful!

Qui Gon Jinn · 07-06-04

Once I know there will be affiliate managers with senior directors in attendance, then I will be interested so that I can present various information for the mark of their attention.

However with TD an CJ half hoping that this will all blow over, we for one have made / are making our own appointments with senior management, presenting the case on an individual basis.