Facebook Soups Up Security, Partners with 49 Attorneys General

To buttress users against inappropriate conduct and content, Facebook has joined ranks with 49 Attorneys General. "Building a safe and trusted online experience has been part of Facebook from its outset," said Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly. "We are proud to join 49 states and the District of Columbia in affirming our commitment to these principles." Per its […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

Microsoft Creeps Up Facebook's Skirt; Yahoo Suitors Drop Like Flies

A source for the Wall Street Journal claims Microsoft has asked Facebook whether it is interested in selling. Last year, Microsoft purchased 1.6 percent of Facebook for $240 million. Microsoft's investment bankers allegedly approached the social networking site around the time the company decided to withdraw its bid for Yahoo. Facebook's response to the proposal was not […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

Demographic-Based Search Tool Returns Relevant Sites with Available Ad Space

Quantcast has launched a service that allegedly enables marketers to search for websites by readership demographic. "If a marketer is targeting black male readers, over 40, with an income over $60,000, then Quantcast’s new service serves up a list of websites which attracts that audience, and also tells you whether or not the site accepts advertising," […]

Posted: Thursday, May 8th, 2008

CraveOnline Buys HockeysFuture and HFBoards

Men's lifestyle destination CraveOnline has acquired HockeysFuture.com and HFBoards.com. HockeysFuture covers prospects for the 30 NHL clubs and as well as news on leagues in North America and Europe. It also has a web radio station dedicated to hockey news. HFBoards is a community site where hockey fans discuss rumors and hockey news. CraveOnline is a subsidiary of […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Mattel Outsources Display Ad Sales to Gorilla Nation

Mattel has tapped online ad firm Gorilla Nation to manage online display ad inventory for Barbie.com and PollyPocket.com. The Barbie site serves 7.3 million unique visitors per month; PollyPocket.com draws about four million. Both sites will be incorporated in Gorilla Nation's GNKids offering. In February, the Star Wars franchise also chose Gorilla Nation to sell ads on its […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

MoveOn Solicits Agency Assistance for Presidential Campaign

Political nonprofit MoveOn.org is seeking creative entries from agencies in order to help steer the 2008 Presidential election in its favor. MoveOn's political "ad network" will be organized by Fenton Communications, the PR firm representing MoveOn. Jonathan Cranin, formerly chief creative officer at McCann Erickson, shall act as chief talent recruiter and director. Agencies of interest will […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Comcast Launches 'Feedback Loop' for Email Marketers

With help from Return Path, Comcast has launched a complaint feedback loop. feedback.comcast.com forwards mail reported as spam back to firms that mass-mail Comcast customers. The loop also enables admins to receive copies of complaints that originate from their networks. The system helps filter spammers that send objectionable material to many inboxes. And senders can view how many […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Google Attempts to Patent Ad Consumption Behavior

Techdirt reports that Google is trying to patent targeted video advertising behaviors that compel audiences to watch a set number of TV commercials in exchange for programming. The patent for "Targeted Video Advertising" includes the following clauses: [1] 'Users may be allowed to skip particular commercials, but required to watch or accept a set number of commercials […]

Posted: Monday, May 5th, 2008

Microsoft Sweetens Yahoo Bid; Yahoo Again Declines; Microsoft Exits Stage Left

Following insider speculation that Microsoft had increased its bid for Yahoo "by a few dollars," resulting in merger talks, Microsoft announced Saturday that it is withdrawing its bid for the search company. The change of heart occurred when CEOs Steve Ballmer and Jerry Yang, as well as Yahoo co-founder David Filo and Microsoft online president Kevin […]

Posted: Monday, May 5th, 2008

Microsoft and Yahoo Get Their Merge On

Insiders reveal Microsoft increased its bid for Yahoo "by several dollars," which has — at long last — sparked active merger talks. The news brings closure to what appeared to be a public stalemate between the two giants, which in turn followed an emotional ultimatum by Microsoft — and Yahoo's cool decline. The original buyout offer valued […]

Posted: Monday, May 5th, 2008

New Releases Now Available to Rent or Own on iTunes

Apple announced it will begin selling new release films on iTunes. The deal includes inked signatures from Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Sony, and New Line Cinema — which currently also deliver rentals to iTunes users. The relationship is a fresh grievance for Wal-Mart, whose DVD division is expected to suffer. In February, […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

eBay Airs Dirty Legal Nappies: craigslist Suit Goes Public

eBay has released full details of its lawsuit against craigslist, an online classifieds site in which it owns a 28.4 percent stake. The suit was filed in April. According to the document, eBay "seeks equitable and legal relief against [craigslist executives] Newmark and Buckmaster, for breaching their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and good faith by implementing […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Ballmer Sways, Considers Higher Yahoo Bid

Microsoft is reportedly willing to raise its bid for Yahoo to $33 a share, reports The Wall Street Journal. The news gives legs to a recent rumor that, despite Steve Ballmer's threats to oust Yahoo's board, he'd prefer a non-hostile takeover. Following Wednesday's board meeting, Microsoft's directors gave Ballmer discretion to either go hostile or give up […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

PIXSTA Fuses Advertising to Image-to-Image Search

London-based PIXSTA has launched a search engine that lets users search for images with other images — a capability unmatched by text-to-text and text-to-image search engines. PIXSTA visitors query by clicking on a product's photo, which returns items of similar color, shape or texture. Clicking on the new options re-submits them as search terms, further terracing […]

Posted: Thursday, May 1st, 2008

ADSDAQ Exchange Fills Campaign Holes with Extra Reach

ContextWeb's ADSDAQ, an online exchange for site publishers and advertisers, has launched a "reach extension program" that enables publishers to fill campaign gaps on short notice. "The program eliminates inventory holding cost for publishers and is essentially risk free since publishers buy on the exchange only when they have a specific need for additional audience and […]

Posted: Thursday, May 1st, 2008

One Decade and Many Markets Later, eMusic Sets Sights on Canada

eMusic, whose catalog includes 3.5 million DRM-free tracks and audio books, went live in Canada this week. "We are excited to introduce the most diverse catalogue of independent music in the world to Canadian music fans," gushed president and CEO David Pakman. eMusic launched Stateside in 1998, in Europe in '06 and in Asia in '07. It […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

CRM Suite Helps SMBs Better Address Disgruntled Yelpers

Yelp has launched a set of tools that enable firms to nurture relationships on the popular review site — whose sip-and-tell clientele have likely burned as many small businesses as they have helped. The suite is available at biz.yelp.com. Business owners may: - Update business information - Directly message users that have reviewed their business - Set alerts for […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Cox Adds Adify to Multi-Channel Ad Spread

Cox Enterprises has just purchased Adify for $300 million, reports PaidContent. The union joins a major online ad network with a high-profile representative of major news and cable ad alliances. Last August Adify launched the Gay Ad Network, which now tops the LGBT category. Adify also helps power Six Apart Media and enjoys the attentions of major […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Mars to Buy Wrigley, with a Little Help from Buffett

"Oracle of Omaha" investor Warren Buffett is partnering with candy vendor Mars Inc. to absorb Wrigley, the no. 1 chewing gum manufacturer in the world, for $23 billion. The offer divvies out to $80 per share, a 28 percent premium over Wrigley's existing market value. The company closed at $62.45 at the end of last week. Buffett's […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

We7 Debuts On-Demand Music Service

Ad-supported music site We7 has launched an on-demand music service. The service avails 500,000 tracks from major labels like Sony BMG, as well as indie artists and music distributors. Users can access on-demand music by clicking "listen now." A short audio ad shall precede each track. Ad revenue is split between the site, the artist and the […]

Posted: Monday, April 28th, 2008