What We're Reading 04/07/2009
Mediaweek: Patrolling Bad Behavior
New FTC powers, Boucher bill could crimp Web $$
The government may soon wield a great deal more power over the online advertising business, and that's quickly spreading fear across the entire ecosystem, including publishers, ad networks, agencies and even their clients.
NY Times: Europe Says Google Can Sell Trademarks but at a Risk of Suits
The European Union’s highest court on Tuesday gave Google broad latitude to sell advertising linked to trademarked names like Louis Vuitton, but said the search engine might have to do more to protect brand owners from infringements arising from the practice.
Excite News: European privacy battle looms for Facebook, Google
You have been tagged in 12 photos. Even if you're not signed up to the Web site.
European regulators are investigating whether the practice of posting photos, videos and other information about people on sites such as Facebook without their consent is a breach of privacy laws.
Environmental Leader: 71% Aware of Energy Star Label Meaning
About 71 percent of Americans are aware of the Energy Star label and its implications, according to a new report from EcoAlign.
CNET: Study: Like it or not, behavioral ad targeting works
Want to get digital-policy regulator types fired up? Start talking about behavioral ad targeting, the business of serving up digital ads that are fine-tuned to a user's Web surfing habits, and you're sure to get all kinds of wildly varied opinions about privacy and sensitive data.
But a new study from a group called the Network Advertising Initiative, or NAI, claims that behavioral targeting is more than twice as effective as non-targeted ads, and the inventory from behavioral ads is worth double that of their non-targeted brethren. The study found that 6.8 percent of people who click on behaviorally targeted ads turn into buyers, versus 2.8 percent of those who click on non-targeted ads.
TriplePundit: Green Advertisers, Government Warned on Environmental Claims
In response to a proliferation of “green” or “environmentally friendly” claims in advertising, the British Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) this week updated their codes of conduct for advertisers seeking to hawk their products as kind to the planet.
