Top Text

The "new" Smart Tags

[keyplyr]

Just when we though we didn't need to worry about MS Smart Tags any longer, along comes TopText, from ezula.com.
If you have any doubt whatsoever about the intentions of the
people behind this sort of software, check out their pages.
It's... educational.

You can get TopText on your system
without even knowing it.
In the wake of the problems with Napster,
a new batch of file sharing systems has been developed. KaZaa
is one of the more popular: 5.5
million to 6 million downloads. If you install KaZaa, you're also installing TopText.

TopText works through your browser, just like SmartTags. It
highlights in yellow all the keywords which eZula, the parent
company, has sold.

Currently the only known partner for TopText is KaZaa, but
eZula claims to be working to rapidly expand their partnership
base. Among the alleged partners are undisclosed "tier one"
ISPs.

[Napoleon]

Yes... this is ugly stuff... known to some as 'scumware'. It's hard to argue with that label.

It's also difficult to know what can be done about it. MS could surely put something in the browser to stop it, but they are in the camp with the bad guys. It's this sort of abuse that will make it easier for them to get away with Smart Tags at some point in the future.

I'm not sure how legislation stands in terms of them installing this technology without making the users fully aware.

[hughy1]

does anyone know a javascript that prevents scumware? thanks

[netcommr]

.js scumware stopper [trafficg.com]

[keyplyr]

Personally, in the last year since I originally posted this thread, I have felt this whole affair has been greatly overstated. Most "reputable" advertisers have withdrawn their addwords from eZula and the threat seems to be minimal now except for possibly KW like: money, credit card, loans, borrow, lender, bank etc.

I tried a couple JavaScript fixes and have since removed them due to problems with my legitimate links loosing their titles and/or not working properly. Also, since these scripts basically reload your page to get rid of the yellow highlights, the natural page load is interrupted and may end up displaying a page that hasn't fully loaded, ending up with those red Xs where images should be. Not a pretty sight!

IMO, not worth it :)

[ann]

Ditto,
took all mine down too...more trouble than it was worth.

Don't know yet what the legal end will do about them but they are hot on gators trail...just have to keep hoping.

Ann

[richlowe]

I am glad to see this threat was a little overblown. I hope these companies get what they deserve - bankruptcy.

Richard Lowe

[dingman]

Did anyone ever test the "unauthorized derivative work" approach to suing such endeavors out of business? How about a libel or defamation tack - after all, my primary problem with this is that I don't want a user thinking I/my employer stuck in links to some fly-by-night fraud, and it sure looks that way if the links are in my page as it shows up in their browser when they visit my site.