Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign-up here.
AdBlock Blocked
Google has booted a number of programs including AdBlock Plus, AdBlocker, AdFree and more from the Google Play Store. “After a regular review we have determined that your app interferes with or accesses another service or product in an unauthorized manner,” says the removal notification letter. “This violates the provision of your agreement with Google referred to above.” TechCrunch. And, the AdBlock statement.
On Digiday, editor Brian Morrissey publishes an email exchange with IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg about the issues surrounding Mozilla’s third-party cookie blocking. Rothenberg offers among several answers, “We should always be wary when any giant company with a dominant position in any industry’s distribution chain decides unilaterally what products get distributed and what products do not get distributed, and we should be even more on our guard when those products are news and information.” Read it.
Spooked by Patent Trolls
An increasing fear of being hit with an patent infringement suit has clients pushing digital agencies to absorb that risk through costly indemnification practices, according to AdAge’s Cotton Delo. “Other agencies report that indemnification for patent infringement can be a sticking point in contract negotiations, and sometimes a deal-breaker,” Delo writes. More.
Fueling The Ads, Commerce
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google has decided to break up its mapping and commerce unit after a management re-arrangement. Read it (subscription). The WSJ’s Amir Efrati quotes sources and says, “The mapping unit will become part of the Google search team, led by Alan Eustace, and the commerce unit will be tucked into the advertising group, led by Susan Wojcicki, one of these people said.” Commerce closer to ads? What a surprise – not. Commerce data fuels ads and visa versa.
Slapping eBay For Slapping Google
WordStream CTO Larry Kim uses the company blog to bash a new eBay study (see yesterday’s roundup) implying search ads are “ineffective” at capturing lower-funnel intent. Kim points out eBay is among the largest users of dynamic keyword insertion, which he says can be effective. “But when employed in the way that eBay uses it, the results are disastrous.” Read his post, with bonus screengrabs.
Marketer As Publisher
Target is adding to its owned media strategy as the company announced the acquisition of Cooking.com and Chefs Catalog, both of them Internet Retailer Top 500 retailers. On Internet Retailer, Target exec Casey Carl says, ““We know consumers are increasingly looking online for cooking solutions to make their lives easier – from utensils and cookware to recipes.” Paid media, right this way. Read more.
You’re Hired!
- Twitter Firms Up Top Ranks With CTO, Tightens Product and Design Roles – AllThingsD
- ValueClick Appoints Chief Marketing Officer – press release
- Resonate Enters New Phase of Growth with Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Research Hires – press release
- Undertone Appoints Corey Ferengul as Chief Operating Officer and Promotes Fred Mather to President, Sales and Operations – press release
But Wait. There’s More!
- Rocket Fuel Lands In France – press release
- Velti reports Q4 results – press release
- Forrester Forecasts 13% Gain In Online Sales – MediaPost
- Comcast to Widen World of Addressable Ads – Multichannel News
