Spyware Update

[Stuart Bartram]

Hi,

I wanted to inform you of Commission Junction’s position on Spyware and our recent actions relating to this issue.

We view Spyware as a very serious issue with far reaching consequences. To address these issues Commission Junction created a Code of Conduct in December 2002 to guide practises and maintain standards for online advertising. Commission Junction suspended 180 Solutions from the UK network in May 2004 due to them contravening the Code of Conduct.

Since the release of the original Code of Conduct technology and techniques used by publishers have continuously evolved. Consequently, Commission Junction updated the Code of Conduct (25 July 2004) to reflect current practises, clarify our position and provide guidelines.

We have now suspended Claria and WhenU from the European network due to them contravening the new Code of Conduct (Update 25 July 2004). The fundamental philosophy behind the Code of Conduct is that any publisher distributing and benefiting from technology driven solutions must provide recognisable value to the End User and the Advertisers.

Here is a link to the new Code of Conduct (Update 25 July 2004):

www.cj.com/pub_conduct.jsp

Should you have any questions, please contact me on the following email address.

Regards,

Stuart Bartram
Publisher Manager
Commission Junction
sbartram@cj.com

[Supercod]

Excellent News Stuart, Well done CJ

[getvisible]

Hi Stuart - This is fantastic news and true step forward by yourselves.

I'd like to say thanks to yourself and Jonathan for taking this step which probably wasn't the easiest ones CJ has ever taken so brilliant news.

I expect more people will use CJ based on this issue being resolved and believe it will allow you to focus on the other issues such as product development, customer/afiliate support and programme monitoring.

Great news, guys.

Lee


oh yeh, does anyone have a list of merchants on TD that I can move to CJ?

[Shane]

Nice one Stuart, big round of applause, knowing what a big machine CJ is, this is no small acheivment

[Graham@Buyagift]

Well done Stuart,

a good move for everyone in the industry (apart from Spyware companies )

Graham

[dbm44]

Well done to everybody at CJ involved in getting this done. You said you would act and now you have.

[getvisible]

was also thinking ...

that does any network have anything in their T of S's or publisher code of conduct that prevents a previously banned site try and sign up again under a different name?

Its just that I was just talking to another network who said 180Solutions tried to sign up multiple accounts with them under one of their pseudonyms.

Can a Terms of Service (or whatever) include a financial penalty for a company trying to break an expulsion or suspension?

I know the guys at CJ will be hot on this but we need to prevent those companies from even trying.

And do you think that the knowledge that Claria would be suspended from CJ would mean they HAD to postpone their IPO as they had material information that could seriously affect the valuation of the company?

[drivetowin]

Stuart

This is excellent news - well done - it is good to see actions promised at the g2g being fufilled.

I for one will certainly now be reinvigorating my efforts in promoting CJ merchants.

[MarkyB]

Stuart,
This is great news!

I will definetly be promoting CJ merchants much more now as a result of CJs move on Spyware!

Nice One!

Mark.

[Rich]

How come 180 are banned from the UK network and Claria & WhenU from the European network? Shouldn't these companies be banned from the entire network if they have broken the Code of Conduct?

Crucial Technology have a UK site in GBP but have their home country listed as US. Ignoring Crucial Technologies own affiliate manager, will CJ allow the above three companies to try to join this program?

Sorry to be a bit negative, but I need near total confidence in networks to use them. Having said that, my confidence in CJ has gone up massively since this anouncement and I will now consider UK merchants at the same level as those on the other networks I trust - it makes it even easier not to use TD.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Interesting progress.

Does this also include 180 & all their various guises which they attempt to sign under or trade under. Plus the affiliates they are recruiting to try and utilise under their names?

As Get Visble says "180Solutions tried to sign up multiple accounts with them under one of their pseudonyms."

There are more than 3 spyware companies out there, could you give an extensive list of those you are aware of.

The next step is to know which of your merchants (and those merchants on other networks) who are working directly with these spyware companies so that ethical affiliates can decide whether to work with them or not.

I know a few of your merchants who are, if they are not forthcoming then these shall be put forward to the forum & consumer mags.

On the whole, the good news is welcomed, but I will remain on the side of caution in performing cartwheels until it has been investigated fully, giving CJ the benefit of any doubt during the interim.

What would be welcomed is an announcement in Trade Magazines and higlighting Tradedoubler are effectively the main ones remaining.

[taramoar]

This is great news for the merchants as well - thanks!