Re: recent changes to Adsense TOS

what mimics and what doesn't?

[ownerrim]

Just wanted to see what the opinions might be. The new adsense tos says you can't run other ads that mimic the appearance of adsense. But what the heck does that really mean?

If they said you can't run other contextual javascript generated ads, that would be clear cut.

But when they say you can't run ads that mimic appearance...does that mean you can't have someone else's ad on a page of your site if the ad is shaped in the form of a rectangle and has text inside it?

That's what a lot of banners look like. I'm sure they making it as hazy as possible for their own advantage.

Does anyone have any opinions as to what is now acceptable, or not?

[Jenstar]

For example, some sites were running directories where it was nearly impossible to see where directory listings ended and AdSense ads started. A couple of those sites are either not running AdSense, or have a different appearance.

Another site I know used to run a large rectangle block, then a large rectangle block under it of in-house ads - again, it was nearly impossible to realize they were different unless you looked at the "Ads by..." That is no longer running AdSense.

So I think that was part of why the policy was changed.

[ken_b]

I'm sure they making it as hazy as possible for their own advantage.

That's my take on it. It does make it harder to know what is ok, and what isn't, but it gives them a lot of room to allow or disallow other ads.

[ken_b]

Where it gets really confusing is when blending ads and site navigation link styles.

You could argue that G suggests that, yet it could also be argued that it violates the "no mimicing" rule.