TradeDoubler Adware Update

[TD Nick]

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Hi there,
I apologise that we are taking so long to clarify our position on this issue, I realise that this has been perceived negatively by many of you. Whilst I still cannot inform you of our corporate Policy on this issue, I would like to take this opportunity to explain what steps we are currently taking to decide upon this Policy.

Firstly, I would like you all to appreciate that we don't work with publishers who deliberately contravene our terms and conditions. It is not in our interest to profit from activity which either cannibalises or impacts negatively on our core publishers. With this in mind, we have taken all your points of view, as well as your case studies in order to get a complete understanding of the impact of Adware on our networks.

All the various issues are being analysed by our Group Management Board as well as the relevant people in the UK office. Whilst we would have liked to have acted on this sooner, I have to remind you that because this affects all of our 16 markets, and because there is so much to be analysed from a technical point of view, we can't agree upon our Policy until we are in full receipt of the facts.

The reason I am making a post now is that I do feel you should have some feedback about how seriously we are taking this and that we do intend on making our position clear very soon. We expect this to be early next week.

Many thanks,
Liz

[Barry]

Hi Liz

I am glad to hear that TD are looking into the problem seriously. You are my biggest earner, as a network and I was stunned and worried to hear of the use of parasite/adware techniques and how they could effect the future security of my job/market.

I know that it taken the TD administration a long time to discuss and work through the data you hold and come to a conclusion on this situation - but larger animals take longer to turn - probably because of slow upper management (they usaually have to have pictures drawn for them to help them understand - he he)

I have never doubted that TD would take this seriously and deal with it accordingly. Lets all just hope that the TD management come to the right (moral) conclusion other wise you and Nick are in for the blame (poor sobs - 'don't shoot the messenger anyone!')

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the situation.

Like everybody else, I will be waiting in suspense for TD's final conclusion.

Cheers

[drooper]

A classic damage limitation exercise in the making. This will drag on as long as publishers let it, personally, I think TD are going to produce a BS code of conduct like cj did and I think its going to happen two days before the get2gether. I think someone at TD must have realised now exactly why so many people want to go to this g2g. TD know that theyve done irreversible damage to themselves and pretty soon their adware clients will be their only publishers. I just feel sorry for the people here that are going to fall for it because for most of them it will be their first time in being fooled by a network.

I only have two merchants left at TD and I have asked them to switch networks, they are considering. Well done to everyone whos helped force TD into this embarrasing position.

[jess1]

Drooper: Let TD get on with what they need to do... lets not jump the gun or assume anything yet. The fact that they are considering the problem is one step further towards acheiving our goal.

[drooper]

Nah, TD can see those videos just like anyone else. Have you thought about moving ASOS to another network?

[ianm]

The big difference between TD (and CJ for that matter) and the networks that have taken a stance on the issue is that they are multi-national companies and the decisions are not made in the UK.

The CEO's of these companies will have to be convinced that the loss of income from dumping these 'affiliates' can be justified to their shareholders. It's also likely that the decision makers are not going to be as computer savvy as the staff 'on the ground' (most likely they will be accountants)

[drooper]

ianm, what a fantastic post, talk about hitting the nail on the head. If merchants and affiliates started abandoning TD in droves they would soon stop dragging their feet. This same situation happened with the american networks and for the reasons ianm pointed out. That is exactly why cj.com now actively promote parasites and the top affiliates of the U.S networks are parasites. The same thing is going to happen here if we adopt a sit on the fence while they think about it attitude.

I dont think I've seen one other affiliate or merchant pledge to drop TD.

[tomj]

i think there are a few networks that need to get themselves sorted so that we CAN all just jump ship and tell TD and CJ to ram it if we like...

these networks who are supporting this campaign need to make sure they have the doggs doo dahhs reporting and creative/text link options sorted.

none of this please update creatives and tracking code rubbish.....make our lives easy, start going after their big names on tha back of this scumware campaign and loads more people will switch.

I hope OMG, SQ, Buy.At POR etc etc are way ahead of me on this one

[jess1]

Will ASOS move if TD continue to use parasiteware? That would be a decision for the board of Directors based on my recommendations. Also it has taken me two years to build up this affiliate program.... to jump ship now in all reality is not on the cards, it would take months of planning...

TradeDoubler.com are aware of our stance but if push came to shove... anything is possible.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

We await with intrepidation the official response, which as i can remember goes back to the Limo Club last year.

[aclarke656]

TD (and CJ) should remember that the longer they take to make this decision the more links are being swapped across to scumware free networks.

I'm not sure about anyone else here, but I'm certainly not going to swap any back when TD do make a decision.

I prefer to work with organisations that act quickly, not ones that have to be forced into making a decision which should really be a nobrainer.

[tobyt]

3 brief comments only:

1: Waiting to get a sensible commercial decision from an accountant at any time is one thing, but if that accountant lives in an igloo, thats gotta be a whole new thing altogether!!?!!

2: In respect of those comments about "having to make decisions that are in the best interests of their shareholders"....... - who is kidding who here - or do you think that they are starting to lock up some of these Directors of Public Companies just because they deserve a holiday at Broadmoor.

3: In the time that it has taken TD to make a decision about this, Richard Branson, has started a completely new airline in the South Pacific and George Bush has conducted half a war in Iraq. Do not believe for a second that it is because because these things take time in public companies - the truth is that it is actually forming a very low priority on their list of things to do. Or do you think that if there was a fire in their Head Office they would call a Board meeting of all Directors before a decision was made to evacuate the building?

[999gi]

I think that it is extremely unlikey given how active TD appear to be in this area that the whole of their board arent totally aware of this. After all presmably its a decent chunk of their income, so what sort of company doesnt take an interest in that.

I expect the management have probably requested some forecasts of the impact of dropping these adware cos verses the cost of losing some affilaite business.

[drivetowin]

I like everyone else am extremely frustrated by the time it is taking TD to make their position clear - the evidence is clear - other networks have moved but I don't think we should be too quick to label TD as the bad guys - while AF and POR moved quickly and of their own accord - Buy.at and more recently DGM moved only because of affiliate pressure - lets not forget that without all of us putting the pressure on they too would still be profiting from 180 solutions et al - and lets also not forget that neither of them have said - we feel so ethically about this that we will divert the funds we made from 180 to a worthwhile cause - instead it has simply gone into their coffers - remember guys and gals collectively that's OUR money which has been stolen

Getting back to TD, having contacted a fair few of their merchants, the vast majority have confirmed positively that they do not / will not have 180 et al on their programmes - so I think the problem is diminishing.

Given that there is a get2gether which a large number of us will be attending in a little over 10 days time and given whispers I have heard on the grapevine I suspect that we will hear that TD have removed 180 by the end of next week.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Grapevine could be delivering 180 as bigger creatives / banners or cohearsing merchants to continue working with 180 or Whenu.

At the end of the day it's Tradeoubler's decision if they wish to adopt the dark side of the industry, it's their business decision to make, we can't force them into a decision.

As long as they remember the campaign will never go away until the industry is cleansed. There are a lot of great things about TD and progress they are making with client portfolio, stats reporting, product databases but this ball and chain outweighs them all. I really want to increase our earnings with TD but this is holding us back.

Cross networks probably have a very similar userbase, so awareness to all active affiliates would be relatively easy to communicate.

Which is why we must stand firm shoulder to shoulder with ethical networks by taking the time out to swap links and prioritise merchants on our sites to those networks. This is not implying TD are bad, but perhaps should look outside the box for the longevity of the industry.