An astute observer posts to Slashdot early this morning
that the social networking/blogging service LiveJournal has added a section to it's
Terms of Service that says users can't block pop-up ads.
This is the language:
"Employing and/or providing software programs, browser scripts, or other
technologies that serve to block or substantially impair the display of advertisements on LiveJournal pages."
What's more obnoxious - pop-up ads or threatening to kick me out of the party if I look the other way? As
you can imagine, conversation both technical and impassioned ensues at Slashdot.
No mention of the
controversy yet on the LiveJournal news page, which
(incomprehensibly) doesn't offer an RSS feed either. (correction - I don't know why I said this, they have a
number of feeds that apprently just evaded me.)
Using pop-up blocker? LiveJournal could delete your account
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. This happened at the same time as they introduced the new Sponsored+ level of membership, offering premium-level features provided users accept ads on their pages.
I've reread the TOS a few times, and I'm still not certain that section isn't intended to apply to the owners of a Journal attempting to use those technologies to mask ads on their own pages. It would be very, very helpful if a spokesperson from LiveJournal would show up and clarify things. (You know, all that Cluetrainy, engagey stuff the new web's supposed to be all about.)
Posted at 12:15AM on Apr 21st 2006 by Rob Cottingham
3. I've seen language like that used on many site's TOS. Basically it means don't deploy code on your Live Journal that interferes with the new LJ advertisements.
Blogger has similar in their TOS not to interfere with their navigation bar. AOL has similar about user added code blocking adverts on their hosted homepages.
4. http://community.livejournal.com/lj_support/629907.html
According to this announcement, the whole ad-blocker-blocking TOS thing was put in by lazy laywers who 'mimiced' the phrases from other sites when they were asked to update the TOS for advertising.
I found the news that LJ was banning users that block pop-ups a little confusing when I first heard it, as I had just finished reading LJ's new ad guidelines, which explicitly say "No pop-ups are allowed.". I'm glad to hear it was all a misunderstanding, of sorts.
http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=265
5. Thanks for all the comments here, everyone. It's a strange situation for sure but I feel more informed now.
Posted at 9:59AM on Apr 21st 2006 by Marshall Kirkpatrick
6. does the TOS contain any information on how they plan on highjacking your browser to prevent you from using greasemonkey or adblocker?
Posted at 9:21PM on Jul 8th 2006 by wicks
1. I don't know whether they added this, or something, but the big orange xml button pointed to http://news.livejournal.com/data/rss might help you out on that rss front.
Posted at 9:41PM on Apr 20th 2006 by kukkurovaca