Google Revises AdSenseTM Online Standard Terms and Conditions

[Guest Luke Wilbur]

I just logged into our Google Account and received the following message.

 

Introduction. This agreement ("Agreement") between You and Google Inc. ("Google") consists of these Google AdSense Online Program (the "Program") Standard Terms and Conditions ("Terms and Conditions"). A description of the Program, as generally offered by Google, is available at the Program Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQ") URL, located at https://www.google.com/adsense/faq, or such other URL as Google may provide from time to time. "You" or "Publisher" means any entity identified in an enrollment form submitted by the same or affiliated persons, and/or any agency or network acting on its (or their) behalf, which shall also be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

 

Communications Solely With Google. You agree to direct to Google, and not to any advertiser, any communication regarding any Ad(s) or Link(s) displayed in connection with Your Property(ies).

 

Yes, I have read and accept the above Terms and Conditions.

(You represent that you are authorized to act on behalf of, and bind to this Agreement, the owner of this account.)

Remind me the next time I log in.

(You must accept the above Terms and Conditions by May 25, 2008, or you will no longer be able to login to AdSense and make changes to your Account.)

 

No, I do not accept the above Terms and Conditions.

(Note: If you choose not to accept these Terms and Conditions, you will not be able to continue using AdSense. You can resume access by logging in and accepting these Terms and Conditions by May 25, 2008.)

 

I really like Google. They contribute in our success.

 

But, I am a little worried about this statement

 

Communications Solely With Google. You agree to direct to Google, and not to any advertiser, any communication regarding any Ad(s) or Link(s) displayed in connection with Your Property(ies).

 

Does this mean that our publication cannot contact advertisers?

 

Or does this mean that we cannot thank our sponsors?

 

NBC Universal wants to advertise on DCpages now.

 

Do the above terms mean we cannot use other advertising agencies to support our publication?

 

The Washington Post invited us to a meeting with them. They have discussed partnering with us.

 

Do the above terms mean we cannot partner with other media outlets?

 

What happens if the Washington Post, NBC4, and Google have the same sponsor? Does this breech the above terms and conditions with Google?

[Guest Luke Wilbur]

I just got a response from a Google publisher.

 

Read Thread

 

On Mar 3, 3:17 pm, Dan B. wrote:

> It means, as I see it, you can't contact AdWords advertisers and cut

> Google out of it...you are free to advertise other systems and people,

> just not if they have first advertised via AdSense.

 

I responded

 

Hi Dan,

Thanks for responding to me. Do you work for Google?

 

What happens if other networks and Google have the same sponsor? Is

this considered a breech of the terms and conditions with Google?

 

 

Imagine if a local advertising agency runs an advertising campaign

that includes multiple advertising networks. The networks may or may

not know that the other has been selected. Does the publication get

penalized for this?

 

 

Adwords is a self service business that any advertiser is free go

to.What if the ad network solicits a Google advertiser without knowing

Google has a relationship with the advertiser. Does the publication

get penalized for this?

 

 

As a publisher, I do not think it is possible to monitor every single

page on my web site. I have thousands of them. What I am worried is

that my publication will be penalized for something it is not aware

of.

[Guest Luke]

I still have not received any word from Google about this issue.

 

I decided to write again

 

http://groups.google.com/group/adsense-hel...db3b7d25098bd04

 

Hi Stephanie,

I am looking for clarification. Can publishers use other Advertising

Networks? If yes, what happens if Google and another Advertising

Network are running the same campaign?

Is this a breech of contract. The reason I want to know is NBC

Universal wants to run advertisements on my web site. We are currently

in the contract phase. I have contacted

NBC Universal and asked to put the contract on hold until I get

clarifications from Google Adsense. I do not want to be in breech of

my contract with Google.

 

Thanks in advance for your response.

 

 

Luke Wilbur

DCpages.com

[Luke_Wilbur]

I just got a friendly email response from Google.

 

Hi,

 

I'm writing to invite you to the AdSense Placement Targeting webinar on March 11, 2008 at 9:30AM PST. In this 30-minute refresher, my teammates and I will provide suggestions for optimizing your account to attract advertisers and increase your Placement Targeting (formerly called "Site Targeting") revenue.

 

We're trying webinars as a way to communicate more effectively with our partners and I hope you'll participate.

 

I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Cheers,

 

Jennifer

[Guest Luke Wilbur]

I have received several emails to share what transpires.

 

I will let you know.

 

 

Hello Luke Wilbur,

 

Your registration was approved for the following Web seminar. We will start the event on time. Please join it at least 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time so you won't miss valuable information.

 

Topic: AdSense Placement Targeting

Host: Alton Lee

Date and Time:

March 11, 2008 9:30 am, Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

March 11, 2008 11:30 am, Central Daylight Time (GMT -05:00, Chicago)

March 11, 2008 12:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (GMT -04:00, New York)

[Guest Luke Wilbur]

I just received this message from Google.

 

Hi Luke,

 

I've gone ahead and passed your message to the appropriate legal team for

further investigation.

 

I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I receive an update from them. I

appreciate your patience regarding this matter.

 

Cheers,

 

Jennifer

AdSense Account Strategist

 

Google, Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

[Guest Fletcher]

Google stock fell more than 4 percent last week because of click fraud and the fact that users are not clicking advertisemnents like they used to. Google change in the terms and conditions may be to prevent NBC from getting a foothold in the local advertising market. If NBC is successful the actual value of Google ads will drop dramatically. Thus the value of Google shares. I am interested to see their response to you.

[Luke_Wilbur]

Fletcher,

Thanks for asking. I have not received any word from Google yet. I did post another message to them.

 

http://groups.google.com/group/adsense-hel...053764407152938

 

I beginning to believe that they were not prepared for this issue and their legal team is trying to resolve it.

 

The part that is starting to get me upset is that I do what they want and answer thier communication to me in a timely manner.

 

But, they refuse to communicate.

[Guest Sunprince2]

Fletcher,

Thanks for asking. I have not received any word from Google yet. I did post another message to them.

 

http://groups.google.com/group/adsense-hel...053764407152938

 

I beginning to believe that they were not prepared for this issue and their legal team is trying to resolve it.

 

The part that is starting to get me upset is that I do what they want and answer thier communication to me in a timely manner.

 

But, they refuse to communicate.

 

I am not sure about you, but my experience with Google has gotten to be more and more contentious. I have had problem after problem with them. They do not respond to questions, they do not respond to requests. They have developed this attitude of superiority and egotism that is intolerable. I am sick of their attitude in more ways than one. I sometimes wish that the whole Google bubble would come crashing down around them.

[Luke_Wilbur]

I finally received a response from Google regarding this issue.

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Hi Luke,

 

I apologize for the delay in updating you as I was out of the office on

Friday. The legal team confirmed that this clause is not meant as an

exclusivity provision as that was actually taken out of the AdSense

Program Policies.

 

Therefore, this clause means:

 

1. Yes, AdSense publishers can participate in other ad networks.

2. If a publisher has a relationship with an advertiser outside of

AdSense, this clause does not prohibit them from communicating with one

another.

 

I hope this addressed your concern and feel free to let me know if you

have any further questions.

 

Cheers,

 

Jennifer

AdSense Account Strategist

 

Google, Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043