Gator Allegedly Unethical Firms Business

This category is about the internet advertising firm whose technique of obscuring advertising on websites with its own advertisements has aroused opposition from webmasters.

• Wired: Judge Takes a Bite Out of Gator - Discusses preliminary legal injunction against Gator.
  
• BizReport: Gator Chomps First, Sues Internet Advertising Bureau - Article on Gator's lawsuit seeking a gag order on IAB representatives, and a ruling that their software is legal.
  
• Documentation of Gator Advertisements and Targeting - Research that uses reverse engineering techniques to learn more about how Gator targets sites. Includes a utility allowing users to determine this information for a given Web site.
  
• CNN: What's fair in online love and ads? - Explains how Gator's software works, the controversy surrounding it, and how to remove it.
  
• news.com.com - Overture Signs Deal With Gator - Article revealing that Overture Services has signed a three-year deal with Gator to display its sponsored search listings on pages that pop under those of rival and partner web sites.
  
• ThiefWare.com: Gator Data Sheet - Discusses Gator auto-install attempts via ActiveX or other techniques when a web site is visited.
  
• InternetNews: IAB Lawyers to Recommend Action Against Gator.com - Internet Advertising Bureau representative calls ad replacing technology "a dirty trick...more likely, it is stealing...just foul play." IAB may file complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
  
• c|net Tech News: Web surfers brace for pop-up downloads - Gator has turned to what it calls "one-click opt-install." In place of a pop-up advertisement, landing on a partner site pops up a prompt to download the software.
  
• ClickZ: The Scum of the Web - General article about "scumware" programs hiding in more popular, often free, programs. Mentions Gator's system.
  
• ZDNet News: Gator sued over pop-up ads - Report on lawsuit filed by publishers seeking injunction and damages for Gator's unauthorized advertising on their site's.
  
• Adage: Online Ad Vendor Gator Changes Name - Rebranded as Claria Corp.
  
• Gator's EULA Gone Bad - By Ben Edelman. Analysis and criticism of Claria's end user license agreement (EULA).
  
• Wired: Guerrilla Ad Banner Battle Looms - Report on the legal battle between the Interactive Advertising Bureau and Gator.
  
• c|net Tech News: Chorus of Gator critics grows - Article on Interactive Advertising Bureau's possible regulatory complaint over Gator's ad insertion. Also discusses Top Text and the effort against it.
  
• PCWorld: Consumer Alert: Stealth Ad Invasion - Don't look now, but your computer may be harboring software that lets unwanted advertising in.
  
• San Francisco Chronicle: Screen grab / Web designers complain new ad programs hijack their sites - Article about the controversial Gator Companion Pop-Up Banner. Focuses on allegations that it is particularly harmful to smaller Web sites.
  
• c|net Tech News: Nobody's going to skin this Gator - Interview with Gator CEO Jeff McFadden who defends their pop-up banners that intentionally cover existing ads on third party web sites.
  
• High-search-engine-ranking.com - Overture to Partner with "Scumware" - Evidence suggests that pay-per-click search leader Overture is heading towards a permanent partnership with controversial online advertising network Gator Corp.
  
• c|net Tech News: Gator rushes to court over ad technology - Lawsuit against the Interactive Advertising Bureau alleging libel is designed to secure Gator's right to sell ads on third party web sites.
  
• USA Today: Spyware watches where you surf - Discusses "freeloading programs" that install spyware components on a user's computer. Gator is among the programs examined.
  
• Traffick.com - Kicking the Gator Software Habit - Article by Cory Kleinschmidt explains how Gator's TOS violates user privacy, and suggests practical alternatives to this password-remembering software.
  
• Forbes.com: Gator's Legal Feud Means Big Publicity - Asserts that Gator's legal battle over its "guerilla warfare" marketing tactics is bringing it free publicity and advertising for its program.
  
• ClickZ: Gator Attack? The Best Defense Is to Join the Anti-Microsoft Offense - Editorial asserting that Gator is a legal content filter that should be exploited as an advertising vehicle. Also asserts that Microsoft's browser monopoly is the true threat that should be fought by publishers.
  
• Slashdot: A New Low for Web Advertisers: Pop-Up Downloads - Report on Gator's pop-up downloads, followed by reader discussion of this and other tactics used by Gator.
  
  

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