Google TOS about talking about CTR

I got the skinny from Google on it

[bbcarter]

There was some confusion about how to talk about AdSense CTR... what exactly we could say-

I emailed Google b/c I wanted to see if there was a way we could help each other help Google but not violate Google policy- here's what I got in response:

<paraphrase email>You are welcome to disclose information about your gross earnings with AdSense but not disclose other account information, including but not limited to, page views, number of clicks, and your click-through rate.

You may comment on percentage increases or decreases based on changes you've made, but please do not disclose the exact numbers other than your gross earnings. (For example, you can say "by changing the placement of my ads to above the fold, my clickthrough rate increased 500%")
</paraphrase>

FYI, here's the exact question I asked:

there was some confusion about whether
AdSense publishers could talk about their CTR; your T&C #7b states
"click-through rates or other statistics relating to Site performance in
the Program provided to You by Google;"

I understand you'd want the information in general kept private from other
competing programs... but any other company that does the same thing who
wants intelligence could get it by just doing AdSense themselves...

Is the spirit of that T&C is to prevent people like us from doing a better
job? Or simply to protect your corporate data? More to the point: is it
possible for webmasters to discuss CTR in a way that's harmonious with
your corporate goals and doesn't violate #7b?

There's a big difference between talking about how to increase ad
efficiency (CTR) and publishing the detailed kind of stats a competitor
would need.

Thanks,
B

[edited by: Jenstar at 2:01 pm (utc) on June 16, 2005]
[edit reason] No email quotes as per TOS, thanks! [/edit]

[Rodney]

That's a good, informative response from them (although the WebmasterWorld terms of service say we aren't supposed to copy and paste email communications...only paraphrase).

[frox]

hi bbcarter, thanks for the informative post.

Speaking about TOS, anyway, the TOS of this forum forbids copy-and-paste of emails here.

You should edit your message and paraphrase the email.

[nanotopia]

It would seem like everything has a ToS now. Did you know that the Charmin ToS says I can wipe with my right hand, but not my left? It's just too hard.

[ownerrim]

hey, what about those southpaws?

[incrediBILL]

nanotopia can't be keeping kosher as the kosher TOS is wipe with the left, eat with the right.

actually, i think that rule harkens from the desert where indoor plumbing doesn't exist.

[vexcominc]

well in that case - i just quadrupled my CTR by reading the google optimization tips...

I was quite happy -

so i guess that works with the TOS :)

[John Carpenter]

but not disclose other account information, including page views

I don't think that it applies to page views. The TOS says:

<start>
"You agree not to disclose Google Confidential Information without Google's prior written consent. ''Google Confidential Information'' includes without limitation: <snip> (b) click-through rates or other statistics relating to Site performance in the Program provided to You by Google; <snip> Google Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google, or information that has been (i) independently developed without access to Google Confidential Information, as evidenced in writing; (ii) rightfully received by You from a third party;"
<end>

As page views information is not obtained from Google (we have our own logs), according to the above definition, number of page views is not Google Confidential Information, so we can talk about it freely.

John Carpenter

[Dave_B]

Many folks also have have a adsense clicklog script, these stats are not provided by google so should be ok to disclose. Of course Google may not view it the same, they could say that adsense still provides those stats "by proxy" for lack of a better term.

So you gotta ask yourself, 'Do I feel lucky'? Well do ya'?

[Dantol]

Nobody can prevent your from talking about Adsense CTR, not even Google. You can talk about your CTR with people you trust, you can even talk publicly, as long as you don't provide your website address.