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Online Advertiser and Creative Acceptance Policy
This CNET Networks™, Inc. Online Advertiser and Creative Acceptance Policy applies to advertisements on the CNET Networks properties in the U.S., including—but not limited to—BNET™, Builder.com™, CNET.com®, CNET Channel™, CNET Downloads™, CNET News™, CNET Reviews™, CHOW™, FilmSpot™, GameSpot®, GameFAQs™, CNET Networks™ International Media, iPhoneAtlas.com™, MacFixIt.com™, Metacritic®, MP3.com™, mySimon™, Search.com™, TechRepublic®, TV.com™, UrbanBaby®, VersionTracker.com™, and ZDNet®. At any time and for any reason in its sole discretion, CNET Networks reserves the right to (a) refuse any advertising/advertisers; (b) make exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis; (c) take down ads it deems inappropriate and (d) make changes or additions to this policy. CNET Networks Inc. will herein be referred to as CNET Networks.
This document is a supplement to CNET Networks' ad specifications. All advertisements must meet spec requirements in order to run on our sites.
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I. Advertising requirements
- A. Creative materials allowed (with restrictions)
- 1. General restrictions
- Punctuation cannot be excessive (avoid multiple question marks, exclamation points, etc.).
- Creative materials that promote, whether directly or indirectly, beer, wine, hard liquor, tobacco products, or firearms may run only in areas where at least 70% of the population is above the legal age. All ads are subject to review and prior approval.
- Streaming audio and video experiences within ad units are allowed, as long as the audio only starts when initiated by the user via click. CNET Networks reserves the right to support non-user-initiated audio campaigns on a case-by-case basis.
- Animations that last 30 seconds or under are permitted. Animation should run smoothly and must not interrupt or interfere with the rest of the page on which the creative is displayed.
- Creative materials promoting political agendas are subject to prior approval by CNET Networks.
- Creative materials promoting sweepstakes or contests are subject to prior approval by CNET Networks.
- If the creative requires the user to provide Personally Identifiable Information (PII), the following requirements apply:
- There must be a clear presentation of how the information collected is being used.
- None of the information collected can be shared with a third party without an explicit opt-in.
- Advertisers must provide instructions within their privacy policy for how to opt out of any future unsolicited promotional communication—e-mail or otherwise.
- Any follow-up communication from the advertiser resulting from the PII collected via CNET Networks' advertisements must contain an explicit opt-out (this applies to every single piece of unsolicited promotional e-mail).
- The advertiser must be in compliance with the CAN SPAM Act.
- 2. Restrictions to creative materials promoting software downloads
- Notice must be provided to the user that the download will take place. The download must not start without user initiation via click. Complete and accurate information about what the software does and how to remove the software must be easily available to the user.
- CNET editors' ratings must reflect the current rating on CNET and be accompanied by the date the product was reviewed. Language such as "recommended" or "Most Popular Download" must also include date and source attribution.
- 3. Adult-related content
- Creative materials displaying bathing suits are accepted, unless they reveal inappropriate body parts.
- 4. Dating sites content
- Dating service content is permitted unless the creative is deemed by CNET Networks to be explicit.
- Personals/dating content intended to run on any CNET Networks' pages requires pre-approval by CNET Networks.
- 5. Sex advice-related content
- Sex advice-related content is only allowed in certain areas of Help.com, and is subject to pre-approval by CNET Networks.
- 6. Religion- and spirituality-related content
- Religion- and spirituality advice-related content is only allowed in certain areas of Help.com, and is subject to pre-approval by CNET Networks.
- B. Creative materials not allowed
- 1. General restrictions
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The following are prohibited:
- Creative materials containing text or images referencing adult content
- Creative materials containing obscene, profane, libelous or slanderous text or images
- Creative materials containing text or images that promote or facilitate defamatory or illegal activities
- Creative materials that facilitate or promote hate speech, whether directed at an individual or a group, and whether based upon the race, sex, creed, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or language of such individual or group
- Creative materials with copy that is misleading or inaccurate
- Creative materials promoting religious content except in certain areas of Help.com, subject to prior approval by CNET Networks
- Creative materials promoting gambling, where the user will play for money or property.
- Creative materials promoting sites and services which compete with CNET Networks sites and services, unless explicitly approved by CNET Networks.
- Creative materials from uncertified pharmacies.
- Creative materials that promote web-based non-accredited colleges that offer degrees.
- Creative materials with animation that lasts longer than 30 seconds
- Pop-ups and pop-under ads, anywhere on the network or as part of the destination/landing pages of ads on the network.
- Creative materials that appear to be part of the content/site on which they appear. This includes but is not limited to using the colors, marks, fonts or icons explicitly associated with the CNET Networks sites. White ads and/or ads with a similar color as the background of the site must have a border or otherwise clearly stand out.
- Creative materials containing any of CNET Networks' trademarks or logos (excluding award logos) without permission. More information is located here:http://www.cnetnetworks.com/editorial/permissions.html
- Information on use of award logos can be found here: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-33_7-5448868-1.html
- Creative materials that resemble the visual style of CNET Networks-created promotions
- For CNET Downloads, the use of the Arial and Helvetica typefaces, the "Download now" language, the CNET Downloads shuttlecock, and user opinion graphics.
- For CNET Version Tracker, the use of the Arial and Helvetica typefaces, the "Download now" language, the VersionTracker.com download graphic (blue arrow swirl), and the color blue for calls to action.
- For CNET Networks GameSpot, GameFAQs, and GameRankings sites, creative materials containing text or images promoting "gold trading" within online games.
- 2. Restrictions to creative materials promoting software downloads
The following are prohibited:
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Automatic downloads without prior approval from CNET Networks
- Presentation of download dialog boxes that do not require user initiation via click to perform a download
- Content that facilitates and/or promotes, whether directly or indirectly, the sale or use of software whose purpose is to collect demographic and usage information from a user's computer without the user's express consent
- Content that facilitates and/or promotes, whether directly or indirectly, the sale or use of software that "sneaks" onto a user's system and performs activities hidden to the user
- Content that facilitates and/or promotes, whether directly or indirectly, the sale or use of software bundled as hidden components of other software, whether free or for fee
- Content that facilitates and/or promotes, whether directly or indirectly, the sale or use of software that may—in any way—alter, harm, disable or replace any software installed on a user's computer without express permission from the user
- Promotions that resemble Windows error messages or actionable site navigation buttons that may confuse our users.
- Calls-to-action which incorporate the color green in any shade
- 3. Adult-related content
The following are prohibited:
- Nudity
- Gratuitous/explicit sex scenes
- Any adult and/or borderline adult content (images or text), whether directly or indirectly promoted, except sex-advice content which is allowed only in certain areas of Help.com with prior approval by CNET Networks
- 4. Dating sites content
The following are prohibited:
- Explicit creative materials. Examples of explicit creative include, but are not limited to the following:
- Images of individuals in positions and/or using body language that is sexually suggestive
- Sexually suggestive text
- Suggestive image(s) combined with suggestive text, such as a banner containing an image of a person with a sexually suggestive look or revealing excessive cleavage when also accompanied with suggestive text
- Creative materials that allow a user to rate an image of a person in a banner
- II. Functional and navigational methods not allowed on CNET Networks
- The advertising may not:
- Utilize "Focus" commands to make their ad the active window when the creative loads, i.e. automatically entering the cursor into the creative and/or inserting the I-beam cursor into an editable text field in the creative.
- Utilize fake "Close" buttons. Buttons appearing to close a window must work.
- Utilize "mouse trapping," whereby the advertiser does not allow users to use their back button and traps them on their site.
- Imitate in look, feel or functionality the site/section on which the creative is running. For example, an ad on CNET News should not appear to be a CNET News article.
- Pretend to know details about a user's computer/system, including what is/is not installed, whether it has discovered viruses, worms, corrupted files, etc.
- Promote or contain viruses, worms, corrupted files, cracks or other material that is intended to or may damage or render inoperable software, hardware or security measures of CNET Networks, any user of CNET Networks' sites and/or services, or any third party.
- Exhibit presupposed knowledge about the functionality of the user's personal computer.
- Appear to make the ad page look broken or as if something is not working on a web page.
Final and ongoing approval of all creative is at the sole discretion of CNET Networks. In addition, CNET Networks reserves the right to re-evaluate previously approved creative at any time to ensure ongoing compliance with our guidelines and to ensure an optimal user experience, as well as in the event that the creative elicits a significant amount of negative feedback from our users.
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