New Terms & Conditions + 'Alternate Ads' Feature

[seaboy]

Some changes to the terms & conditions - but I don't know what the old ones said to compare - Jenstar?
But there is an "alternate ads" feature - you can now specify (as the name suggests!) an alternative ad to run instead of having a blank space. That's pretty cool - someone is obviously watching the Webmaster World wish list thread.

[div01]

New tax related information aswell.

I don't really like their very narrow definition of what constitutes a "Non U.S. Business (No U.S. Business Presence)" - I guess my beef really should be with the IRS. It looks like hosting your sites in the US constitutes a US presense.

[edited by: div01 at 1:44 am (utc) on Oct. 17, 2003]

[Monus]

Its not only the hosting, there can not be US presence with:

setting up a web server, hosting service, or website
developing content for your website
marketing to create a user base for your site
telephone support for your site
buying products for your site
maintaining your site

[edited by: Monus at 1:51 am (utc) on Oct. 17, 2003]

[olias]

It looks like hosting your sites in the US constitutes a US presense.

Yeah I'm not too happy about that one either, maybe it's time for me to start looking for UK hosting!

[bignet]

and it is time for me to set up my own uk hosting company.

mind you it will cost much more than us hosting

[div01]

Monus,

The tasks you listed are relevant if you have "employees" in the US who do this for you.

For all intents and purposes, I pay for webhosting as a service, like buying a subscription to WSJ online - I buy it and that's it. I am not employing anyone ...

[Visi]

Not sure that is the definition...any tax lawyers around when you need one?

[danny]

Google's instructions aren't clear to me. My web site is hosted in the US, but I don't "have a hosting service" in the US -- I'm paying a third-party for service and don't own or operate any equipment myself.

[div01]

Same here Danny...

[Jenstar]

I'm away from my computer for half an hour, and everything happens ;) A breakdown of the changes is coming right up :)

[seaboy]

I'm away from my computer for half an hour...

Slacker!

[dazzlindonna]

I just find it a bit annoying that I have to constantly agree to new conditions and new contracts. I'm not annoyed enough to quit using it, mind you, but it feels strange. I've never had this happen so often in any other business situation. Google is making me feel less like a business partner (and let's face it, they do make money by partnering with us), and more like a concubine. According to dictionary.com, one of the definitions of concubine is "In certain societies, such as imperial China, a woman contracted to a man as a secondary wife, often having few legal rights and low social status." Rather than having a contract WITH google, I am beginning to feel contracted TO google. But oh well, I'll continue to be a good little concubine, and click the little I Agree button, so I can please my "partner". As far as paying taxes are concerned, c'est la vie.

[Visi]

Think its a lot better this way then just changing the TOS, not telling me and hading me the eviction after the fact. Like the idea of putting it right out there, so everyone knows about it.

[bignet]

seems too many trying to read abuot the tax isue

anyone getting this error?

Google
Error

Server Error
The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request.
Please try again in 30 seconds.

[loanuniverse]

I got the error, fixed with a refresh.

[bignet]

maybe too many refreshes will bring G down

[Jobarr]

For the alternate ads, is this only for when they would show PSAs for the whole thing or when they might only show 2 instead of 4 ads (to fill in the gap)?

[Blue_Fin]

Jobarr, I have never seen an AdSense panel mix PSAs with regular ads, so my take is you'll either see paid ads (1 to 4) or your one alternate ad.

[div01]

I think its the latter...fill the 'gaps'. I'll have to recheck the wording...or just wait for Jenstar to be done.

[Visi]

Nothing like new TOS and improvments to light up the adsense forum:)

[irock]

Visi,

We have to submit our tax status... something international members have to worry about.

BTW, how exactly do you apply a TIN anyway? The IRS site is full of 'crap' (crap that only tax lawyers understand).

[Jobarr]

Blue_Fin, I didn't mean that PSAs and regular ads were mixed. I mean, sometimes I see only 1 or 2 ads instead of the normal 4.

I am wondering, in cases where less than 4 are shown, are these alternate ads supposed to fill in the gaps (2 from google, and then my alternate ads)? Or, will they just TOTALLY replace it when google can't find enough or would show PSAs?

[Visi]

irock...same here....but until interpetation comes down...either by lawyer or google on the hosting question....not going to lose any sleep over it. We all knew it was coming....just need to wait for proper direction. Knows from experiance not to try to understand tax codes on my own:)

[Blue_Fin]

I just find it a bit annoying that I have to constantly agree to new conditions and new contracts.

Get used to it because I suspect there will continue to be changes as this program evolves and competitors enter the fray.

It's not unreasonable that a brand new program will have things come up that were not previously anticipated. We're in another business relationship that we modified the terms about a month after it was signed.

[dazzlindonna]

So is my understanding of the tax-related issue correct in that there will be no payments (for september) until after we turn in our information in early november?

[Blue_Fin]

Jobarr, your Alternate Ad will appear only when Google has no AdSense inventory to display. It's simply to replace the PSAs that would otherwise show.

10. What are 'Alternate Ads?'
Alternate Ads allow you to monetize your ad space in the event that Google is unable to serve targeted ads to your page. By specifying an image or ad server of your choice, you can make sure that your advertising space is always being used effectively, either by targeted AdSense ads, or by your own choice of content.

Alternate Ads, if specified, will be shown when there are no targeted ads available for your page. The ad space will not be branded as 'Ads by Google.'

[Visi]

Believe final cutoff is Nov 30th.

[Jobarr]

Blue_Fin, ok, got it..thanks!

Also: do we need a tax ID even if the site is basically a personal site and not a business and is only run by one person...or will a social security number be enough in that case? I didn't see anything about individuals on their page, just businesses. Maybe I didn't read enough... :)

[Blue_Fin]

Your Social Security number is your Tax ID if your income is reported on your personal tax return.

[Jenstar]

I started a new thread regarding all the changes made within the terms. The post was several pages long with all the new changes.

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